Police Dismiss Five Inspectors, Prosecute Three Over Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed five inspectors and initiated prosecution proceedings against three others over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and abuse of office in Rivers State.

The development was confirmed on Friday during the parade of the affected officers at the Rivers State Police Command headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Anthony Placid.

Placid said the disciplinary actions followed extensive investigations into multiple complaints of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, stealing, extortion, and misconduct allegedly carried out by officers operating within Rivers State and other parts of the country.

According to the police spokesperson, three inspectors attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa — identified as Ayanniyi Jelil, Durojaye Francis, and Olayemi Titus — were arrested over the alleged abduction and robbery of a man identified as Festus Saturday. He explained that the officers were allegedly operating an illegal patrol team along the Igboh-Etche axis when they stopped the victim and his cousin during a stop-and-search operation in November 2025.

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The officers were said to have assaulted the victims, forced them to unlock their mobile phones, and gained access to their banking applications and cryptocurrency wallets, before allegedly stealing about ₦7.3 million and $1,742. Placid further alleged that the suspects used AK-47 rifles during the operation and had carried out similar attacks on other unsuspecting residents across Rivers State. Recovered items reportedly include three Toyota Sienna buses allegedly linked to the operation, while three additional officers connected to the case are currently on the run.

In a separate case, five officers attached to the Operations Department of the Rivers State Police Command were dismissed following investigations into allegations of armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and abuse of office. The dismissed officers were identified as John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu, and Anele Ikechukwu.

Their case followed petitions filed by the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation on behalf of victims who accused the officers of operating illegal patrol teams and abducting civilians around Port Harcourt. Police investigations reportedly showed that the officers routinely seized victims’ phones, accessed bank details, and transferred funds from accounts and cryptocurrency wallets.

One of the victims, Felix Favour, was allegedly forced to transfer about $4 million in cryptocurrency, while another victim reportedly lost ₦940,000 after being kidnapped along Aba Road. Another complainant, Okparaocha David Ugochukwu, was said to have lost ₦1.3 million, as well as jewellery and a wristwatch valued at over ₦6 million. Investigators also alleged that the officers falsely claimed to be operatives of Zone 16 Headquarters to intimidate victims and evade detection.

Placid said all the affected officers were subjected to orderly room trial procedures before their dismissal, while those indicted in the criminal cases have been recommended for prosecution. He added that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to internal discipline and will not tolerate misconduct that undermines public trust, stressing that efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and ensure accountability.

Police Dismiss Five Inspectors, Prosecute Three Over Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers

Tega Dominic Breaks Silence on Alleged Affair With Frank Edoho

Media personality and former Big Brother Naija housemate, Tega Dominic, has strongly denied allegations linking her romantically to popular television host Frank Edoho, describing the claims as false, malicious and damaging to her reputation.

The controversy erupted after rumours circulated online alleging that the reality TV star was secretly involved in a romantic relationship with Frank Edoho following reports surrounding his marital situation.

Reacting to the allegations, Tega said she initially chose to remain silent in order to avoid unnecessary social media drama but was eventually forced to speak out due to the continued spread of the claims.

In a statement shared on her social media pages, the former BBNaija star categorically denied having any romantic or sexual relationship with the veteran TV host.

“I have absolutely no sexual or emotional relationship with Frank Edoho. Frank is a great guy and a very good friend of mine… There was never anything inappropriate between us,” she stated.

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According to Tega, her friendship with Frank Edoho began around mid-2025 after he sent birthday wishes to her mother. She explained that they were already familiar with each other through social media interactions and mutual contacts within the entertainment industry.

She further clarified that their only physical meeting took place in the presence of her manager, Paul Ukonu, stressing that there was never any inappropriate involvement between them.

The reality TV personality also revealed that both she and Frank Edoho were separated from their respective partners at the time they became friends, adding that she would not have hidden a romantic relationship if one truly existed.

“If there was anything romantic between us, I would not hide it,” she added.

Expressing frustration over the allegations, Tega said she has spent years carefully building her image, career and personal brand and would not allow false narratives to tarnish her reputation.

“I have worked too hard to build myself and my brand step by step to allow false accusations to stain my name like this,” she said.

The former BBNaija star also challenged those spreading the rumours to provide credible evidence to back up their claims.

She accused some bloggers and social media users of pushing unverified narratives simply to generate online engagement and attention.

“This has honestly been very upsetting for me, but moving forward, my lawyers will handle the matter appropriately. There will be consequences. This will be the only time I address this matter,” she warned.

Tega confirmed that her legal team has now been instructed to take over the matter and pursue appropriate legal action against anyone found spreading defamatory claims.

As of the time of filing this report, Frank Edoho had not publicly reacted to the allegations or Tega’s statement.

The controversy has continued to generate mixed reactions online, with some social media users supporting Tega’s decision to defend her reputation, while others continued to debate the rumours.

The incident once again highlights growing concerns over celebrity gossip, online misinformation and reputational damage fueled by unverified claims circulating rapidly across social media platforms.

Tega Dominic Breaks Silence on Alleged Affair With Frank Edoho

Many Pupils Feared Abducted After Terrorists Invade Borno School

Fresh fear has gripped residents of Mussa village in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State after suspected Boko Haram insurgents reportedly attacked a primary and junior secondary school, with several pupils feared abducted during the early morning raid.

The attackers, said to have arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, stormed the community shortly after security personnel on patrol reportedly left the area, triggering panic among residents, students and teachers.

Local sources disclosed that the insurgents invaded Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School during the assault, forcing many students to flee into nearby bushes while others were allegedly taken away by the gunmen.

Although the exact number of abducted pupils has not been officially confirmed, residents claimed several children were missing after the attack.

“Yes, the attack happened in the early hours of Friday and it was discovered that many children were abducted,” a resident told journalists.

The latest incident has heightened anxiety across the community, with parents and local vigilante groups searching surrounding bushes and nearby communities for fleeing students.

Confirming the attack, the Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdullahi Askira, said reports available to him indicated that many students escaped into the bush during the invasion, though details surrounding possible abductions remained unclear.

“Yes, I can confirm that some suspected terrorists riding on motorcycles invaded the primary and junior secondary schools in Mussa village this morning,” he said.

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“Information at my disposal was that many of the students fled into the bush, but I don’t have details of those abducted yet.”

Askira described the incident as disturbing, noting that the insurgents struck barely minutes after troops conducting patrol operations departed the area.

According to him, the timing of the attack suggested that the terrorists may have monitored the movement of security operatives before launching the assault.

“It is disheartening that the incident happened shortly after troops left the community. This signifies that the attackers were likely spying on the movement of soldiers before they struck,” he added.

Mussa village is located near the fringes of the Sambisa Forest, a region long associated with activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents despite ongoing military offensives by security forces.

Following the attack, fear spread across social media as residents and concerned Nigerians called for prayers and urgent intervention to rescue the missing children.

One social media user, Solomon Mussa, appealed for support online, writing: “Please pray for the Mussa Boko Haram attack in Mussa village now. According to reports, school children were affected.”

Attempts by journalists to get an official reaction from the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent to him were not answered as of the time of filing this report.

The latest school attack has renewed concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, especially repeated attacks targeting schools and vulnerable rural communities.

Over the years, Boko Haram insurgents have carried out multiple kidnappings and attacks on educational institutions across the North-East, forcing school closures and disrupting learning activities in many communities.

Security experts and residents are now calling on the Federal Government and military authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rural security patrols and provide better protection for schools in conflict-prone areas.

Many Pupils Feared Abducted After Terrorists Invade Borno School