The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into allegations of unlawful detention, extortion, and human rights abuses levelled against officers of the Octopus Unit at C4i in Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
The order came after public outrage mounted over the claims, which began circulating on social media and among residents in the port city. The allegations paint a troubling picture of law enforcement officers using their positions to brutalize and financially exploit citizens without legal justification.
The Octopus Unit, a special anti-crime task force within the Rivers State Police Command, has long been a flashpoint for complaints about extrajudicial conduct. The unit operates from its base at C4i in the Diobu area, strategically positioned to police the volatile Mile 2 corridor, a commercial and residential hub in Port Harcourt.
Adepogu's decision to launch an investigation signals the seriousness with which the police hierarchy is treating the matter, though it remains unclear whether the probe will lead to criminal charges or disciplinary action against the officers involved. The CP has not made a public statement explaining the scope of the investigation or the timeframe for its completion.
Citizens and rights groups have called for swift action, with many expressing frustration that similar allegations against special police units in Nigeria rarely result in meaningful accountability. The Octopus Unit has faced criticism in the past for its aggressive tactics, though the current allegations represent some of the most specific claims of systematic extortion and wrongful detention.
The investigation will determine whether the allegations have merit and what remedial steps the police command will take if wrongdoing is confirmed. Residents are watching closely to see whether this probe becomes another empty gesture or whether officers found culpable will face real consequences.
