Rogue Police Officers Arrested For Kidnapping, Extorting Crypto In Rivers

Several police officers from the Rivers State Police Command have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a man, transferring 3000 USDT from his cryptocurrency wallet, and driving him across multiple states before releasing him.

The incident came to light thanks to Harrison Gwamnishu, a human rights activist, who narrated the ordeal on his social media platform.

According to Gwamnishu, the victim was abducted in Aba, Abia State, and transported to Bayelsa State and then Ughelli, Delta State, before returning to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Throughout the ordeal, the officers reportedly forced the man to transfer 3000 USDT, a cryptocurrency stablecoin equivalent to US dollars, to their digital wallet.

“The police officers attached to Rivers State Police Command left Port Harcourt to Aba, Abia State, arrested the man, took him to Rivers State, Bayelsa State and entered Ughelli, Delta State,” Gwamnishu wrote on X.

“After paying 3000 USDT, they moved him back to Port Harcourt and dumped him.

“Let it be on record that the Commissioner of Police Rivers State Command is aware of this kidnapping by men under his supervision”.

Rivers Police Command spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the allegations and revealed that the officers have been identified and apprehended.

In her press statement “Re: 3000 USDT Transferred To Police Officers WALLET, she said, “The Police personnel have been identified and arrested while the investigation is in progress.

“The outcome will be made public as soon as it is concluded”.

This isn’t the first time such misconduct has been reported involving Rivers State police. Last year, another group of officers from the Bayelsa State Command were accused of abducting young men, driving them around multiple states, and extorting them through a Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminal.