The Rivers State Police Command has denied allegations linking the Commander of 56 Police Mobile Force, ACP London Irikefe, to the arrest and prosecution of four men over the alleged abduction of a woman in the state.
The Command, in a statement signed on Thursday by its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe Kaborlo, said Irikefe was not involved in the arrest or prosecution of Darlington Ogulo, Eze Woke Solomon, Wali Perfect and Augustine Charles.
According to the command, the operation followed a formal complaint of an alleged abduction and findings made by police operatives at the scene.
It said that on August 17, 2026, at about 6:30 p.m., Gift Benjamin Odogbo of Rumualuu Community reported that her mother, Kate Odogbo, was allegedly abducted by unknown gunmen on August 12.
The police said after four days of searching, Gift discovered that her mother was being held at a detention facility allegedly owned by one Gabriel Asa Abuja, whom the suspects reportedly described as their leader and as belonging to the Nigeria Forest Guard.
The statement said, “Upon receipt of the report, the Command immediately mobilised operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU-AKU) to the scene.”
It added, “The victim was found inside a cell and successfully rescued by the team.”
The police said four suspects, identified as Ogulo, 47; Solomon, 25; Perfect, 24; and Charles, 25, were arrested during the operation, while a pump-action firearm and a locally fabricated long gun were recovered. It also said the main access road to the facility was blocked with sandbags.
According to the command, preliminary investigations revealed allegations of illegal possession of firearms, intimidation of members of the public, unlawful detention and the establishment of a security outfit without the required licence or authorisation.
The police said the suspects were unable to produce the necessary documentation to identify themselves with their claimed outfit.
The command further warned that private security outfits and individuals were not authorised to establish or operate detention facilities in a manner that assumes or purports to exercise police powers.
It said, “More importantly, the use of police colors, markings, insignia or other police-identifying features on any building or structure in a manner capable of misleading members of the public into believing that it is an authorised police facility is unacceptable and constitutes an offence.”
The four suspects were subsequently charged to court on August 21, 2026.
Reiterating that Irikefe had no involvement in the case, the command said, “The arrest was based solely on the complaint received, the circumstantial evidence at the scene and the need to rescue and protect the alleged victim.”
It urged the public to disregard what it described as misleading narratives linking the police officer to the arrest and prosecution, while cautioning bloggers, social media influencers and content creators against publishing false, misleading or defamatory information capable of causing public mischief or damaging reputations.
The Command said such conduct could constitute offences under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act and advised members of the public to verify information from credible and official sources before sharing it.
It said, “The Command remains committed to professional policing, protection of lives and property, respect for human rights, transparency, accountability and impartial enforcement of the law without fear or favour.”
Rivers: Police disown claims linking 56 PMF Commander to four suspects’ arrest