Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has removed six Commanding Officers of the Nigeria Police Force Mobile Police (MOPOL) and Operations units deployed to provide security at TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited facilities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The officers were reportedly removed from their positions following an investigation into allegations that they operated a system through which personnel under their command were compelled to surrender ₦70,000 from their monthly special-duty allowances.
According to sources familiar with the development, the six commanders were removed last week after a police investigative panel constituted by the Inspector-General of Police found evidence supporting the allegations.
The investigation reportedly followed earlier reports alleging extortion, abuse of office and poor welfare conditions among police personnel attached to the multinational oil company.
A source said the investigation initially faced difficulties because some of the affected officers were reluctant to speak openly for fear of victimisation.
Following the reports, the IGP was said to have constituted a panel from Force Headquarters in Abuja to investigate the allegations.
The source explained that although some personnel initially denied the claims when investigators visited, documentary evidence was later submitted by some officers after the panel returned to Abuja.
The evidence allegedly convinced the police authorities to take disciplinary action against the six commanding officers.
“Last week, the six commanding officers were removed and replaced, while officers they used in collecting the extortion money were recommended for trial,” the source said.
The source further alleged that the removed commanders had subsequently been lobbying against the prosecution of personnel accused of assisting in the collection of the money.
It was also disclosed that the affected commanders could eventually be withdrawn from MOPOL and redeployed to conventional police formations in various state commands.
The allegations reportedly stemmed from an earlier increase in the special-duty allowance paid to officers deployed to TotalEnergies facilities.
Reports had indicated that TotalEnergies approved an upward review of the allowance, with some officers receiving as much as ₦220,000.
However, the officers allegedly claimed that shortly after receiving the increased allowance, the six commanders directed Special Duty Administrators to collect ₦70,000 from each officer every month as compulsory “returns.”
One of the affected officers reportedly said the development turned what personnel had viewed as a welcome improvement in their welfare into another source of financial pressure.
According to the officer, personnel were warned that anyone who refused to surrender the ₦70,000 could be removed from the special-duty deployment.
The latest development follows a June 8 report in which officers attached to TotalEnergies accused their commanders of allegedly running an organised extortion scheme.
The removal of the six commanders marks the latest disciplinary action arising from the allegations, while personnel accused of participating in the collection of the money have reportedly been recommended for prosecution.
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