Rivers Police Detain Officer Over Alleged Negligence After Suspect Escape

Published on 16 May 2026 at 06:37

Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Pierre Antoine

The Rivers State Police Command has initiated disciplinary action against a police officer following the alleged escape of a suspect from custody, according to an official statement released by the Command.

In a press release issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, the Command confirmed that ASP Ekawhe Thomas, attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), has been detained and formally queried in line with disciplinary procedures of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Command said the action followed a preliminary review of the incident, which has drawn public attention after reports circulated in the media concerning the officer’s alleged conduct and the suspect’s escape.

Police authorities stated that efforts are ongoing to re-arrest the fleeing suspect, while a full investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and establish possible negligence or misconduct.

Reacting to the development, Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, expressed dissatisfaction over the incident and stressed that the Force remains committed to professionalism, accountability, discipline, and the rule of law.

According to the statement, the Commissioner warned that the Command would not tolerate negligence, abuse of office, or any form of misconduct by personnel, adding that any officer found culpable after investigations would face decisive disciplinary measures in accordance with existing laws and police regulations.

The Command also assured residents and members of the public of its commitment to transparency, justice, and the protection of citizens’ rights.

The incident comes amid increasing public scrutiny of police operations and accountability within security agencies in Nigeria, particularly regarding the handling of suspects and internal disciplinary standards.

Stone Reporters note that the Rivers State Police Command has not yet released details about the escaped suspect or the circumstances under which the individual allegedly fled custody. Investigations are still ongoing.

📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews

Add comment

Comments

There are no comments yet.