The Nigeria Police Force, Rivers State Command has dismissed an online publication linking the Commander of 56 Police Mobile Force, ACP London Irikefe, to the arrest and prosecution of four men over an alleged abduction case.
The Command, in a statement issued on Thursday August 27, 2026, by its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing, said Irikefe was neither involved in the arrest nor prosecution of the suspects.
According to the statement, the police operation followed a formal complaint lodged on August 17, 2026, by Gift Odogbo of Rumualuu Community, who reported the alleged abduction of her mother, Kate Odogbo.
The Command said the woman was allegedly abducted by unknown gunmen on August 12 and was later discovered to be held at a detention facility allegedly owned by one Gabriel Asa-Abuja, whom the suspects reportedly described as their leader and a member of the Nigeria Forest Guard.
Following the complaint, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU, were mobilised to the location, where the alleged victim was found inside a cell and rescued.
Four suspects; Darlington Ogulo, 47, Eze Woke Solomon, 25, Wali Perfect, 24, and Augustine Charles, 25, were arrested during the operation.
The police said one pump-action firearm and one locally fabricated long gun were recovered, while the major access road to the facility was allegedly blocked with sandbags.
The Command said preliminary investigations revealed allegations bordering on illegal possession of firearms, intimidation, unlawful detention and the establishment of a security outfit without the required licence or authorisation.
The Police added that the suspects could not produce the necessary documents to authenticate their claimed affiliation with the security outfit. It also warned that private security organisations and individuals are not authorised to establish detention facilities or exercise powers reserved for the police.
The Command particularly condemned the use of police colours, markings, insignia or other identifying features on buildings in a manner capable of misleading members of the public into believing that such facilities are authorised police establishments. According to the statement, all four suspects were subsequently charged to court on August 21, 2026.
The Rivers Police Command urged members of the public to disregard narratives linking ACP Irikefe to the arrest and prosecution, stressing that the operation was based on the complaint received, findings at the scene and the need to rescue and protect the alleged victim.
The Command further cautioned bloggers, social media influencers and content creators against spreading false, misleading or defamatory information, urging the public to verify claims through credible and official sources before sharing them.
It reaffirmed its commitment to professional policing, human rights, transparency, accountability and impartial enforcement of the law.
