Rivers: Police disown claims linking 56 PMF Commander to four suspects’ arrest
Rivers State Police Refutes Links Between Commander and Abduction Case
The Rivers State Police Command has publicly denied allegations involving ACP London Irikefe, the Commander of the 56 Police Mobile Force, concerning the recent arrest and prosecution of four individuals in connection with an alleged abduction case.
In a statement issued Thursday and signed by Police Public Relations Officer ASP Blessing Agabe Kaborlo, the command asserted that Irikefe played no role in the arrest or prosecution of the suspects: Darlington Ogulo, Eze Woke Solomon, Wali Perfect, and Augustine Charles.
The police stated that the operation leading to the arrests stemmed from a formal complaint regarding an alleged abduction. According to the command, on August 17, 2026, around 6:30 p.m., Gift Benjamin Odogbo of Rumualuu Community reported that her mother, Kate Odogbo, had been supposedly kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on August 12.
Following four days of searching, Gift located her mother, who was reportedly being held at a detention site believed to be owned by a man identified as Gabriel Asa Abuja, whom the suspects referred to as their leader and associated with the Nigeria Forest Guard.
Upon receiving the report, the police mobilized members of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU-AKU) to the location. The statement detailed that the victim was discovered inside a cell and was successfully rescued by the team.
During the operation, Ogulo, 47; Solomon, 25; Perfect, 24; and Charles, 25, were arrested. Authorities recovered a pump-action firearm and a locally manufactured long gun, noting that the facility’s main access road had been obstructed with sandbags.
Preliminary investigations revealed alleged illegal possession of firearms, intimidation of the public, unlawful detention, and the creation of a security outfit lacking proper licensing or authorization. The suspects were reportedly unable to provide documentation to justify their claim of affiliation with the purported security group.
The police command cautioned that private security entities and individuals are not sanctioned to establish or operate detention facilities that mimic police authority. Moreover, it stated that the display of police insignia or markings on any structure misleading the public into believing it is an official police facility is prohibited.
The four suspects were subsequently charged in court on August 21, 2026.
Reiterating Irikefe’s non-involvement in the case, the police emphasized that the arrests were based solely on the initial complaint, circumstantial evidence gathered at the scene, and the imperative to protect the alleged victim. The command urged the public to disregard misleading narratives connecting the police officer to the case.
The police command also warned bloggers, social media influencers, and content creators against disseminating false or misleading information that could cause public unrest or damage reputations. Such actions may violate the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act. The command advised citizens to verify information through credible and official channels before sharing.
“The Command remains committed to professional policing, the protection of lives and property, respect for human rights, transparency, accountability, and impartial enforcement of the law,” the statement concluded.
