Ghanaian Landlord Apprehended for Allegedly Removing Tenant's Roof in Rivers State
The Rivers State Police Command has taken into custody a Ghanaian national, Mr Samuel Frimpong, following allegations that he removed the roof of his tenant's apartment in the Mgbuoba area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. This drastic action reportedly occurred after the tenant failed to vacate the premises within a specified grace period.
Details of the Incident and Tenant's Account
According to police reports, the suspect is accused of de-roofing the apartment belonging to his tenant, Mr Anozie Tochukwu, who resides at No. 7 Chief Chike Street. The incident was reported to the Ozuoba Police Division after occurring in the Obio/Akpor region of the state.
Narrating his experience, Mr Tochukwu explained that he moved into the property in January 2024 and had consistently paid his rent to the landlord. Towards the end of 2025, Mr Frimpong served him with a notice indicating plans to renovate the apartment and directed him not to renew his lease, which was scheduled to expire in January 2026.
"On the first of February 2026, I showed him the transaction payment that I made for a new apartment and pleaded for 14 days, which will elapse on the 14th of February, to relocate," Tochukwu stated.
"But to my greatest surprise, at about 8:02 AM, on February 3, 2026, my wife called to inform me that the landlord (Mr Frimpong) had de-roofed my apartment. A few hours later, it started raining heavily, and all my property, documents, and certificates were exposed to the rain. My pregnant wife and my two kids, two years old and three years old respectively, were exposed to," he lamented.
Extensive Property Damage and Losses
The tenant further detailed substantial losses of personal belongings resulting from the incident. "Currently, all my properties worth 25 Million Naira got damaged inclusive of 43 inches Maxi television, a deep freezer, chandelier, set of chairs, NYSC certificate, my degree certificate, my professional certifications, books, clothes, foodstuff, 4×6 foam and bed frame, baby medications, pregnancy medications, my wife's certificates, children birth certificate, my shoes, children shoes and wife shoes, and my saving box of close to nine months of saving is missing. My ceiling fan is missing," Tochukwu reported.
Police Action and Legal Response
Police sources confirmed that detectives from the Ozuoba Police Division arrested the landlord on Wednesday, February 3, 2026, after the matter was formally reported. The spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Chief Superintendent of Police, verified the arrest.
"Yes, I can confirm. The landlord has been arrested. He is with us; the investigation is ongoing. He may be arraigned after the investigation," Iringe-Koko stated.
Meanwhile, a legal practitioner with the human rights group Lawyers Watch for Justice International Initiative, Mr Raymond Okocha, characterized the incident as a severe injustice and a breakdown of the rule of law. Okocha emphasized that the landlord allegedly took the law into his own hands by acting without due legal process.
"Under the Nigerian law, 'self-help' is alien. You cannot evict a tenant by destroying the property. To evict a human being, you must follow due process through our courts," he explained.
"By removing that roof, the landlord has not only breached the Recovery of Premises Law but also committed a flagrant violation of the family's fundamental right to dignity. This is a clear case of malicious damage and psychological abuse. We are calling for immediate justice. We want the law to take its full course. Justice for Mr Tochukwu is justice for all of us," Okocha added.
Police authorities have indicated that investigations into the matter are continuing as they work to gather all relevant evidence and statements.
