Public outrage has erupted in Rivers State after videos surfaced showing suspected cultists celebrating the renovation of a police outpost in Abuloma. The Rivers State Police Command has responded by suspending the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and the officer in charge of the facility, pending a full investigation.
Suspected Cultists Celebrate Renovation at Abuloma Police Outpost
Videos circulating on social media showed members of the DNKI, also known as the Vikings confraternity, in red and white outfits, gathered inside the Abuloma Police outpost near Okuru Junction in the Trans Amadi area of Port Harcourt. The footage captured the men celebrating the completion of what they claimed was a renovation project at the facility. Another section of the video displayed part of the outpost that the group allegedly renovated.
The development has raised serious concerns about the relationship between suspected cult groups and the police institutions responsible for enforcing the law and protecting residents. Nigerians have expressed shock that criminal elements could openly associate with police property without immediate intervention.
Police Command Suspends DPO and Orders Investigation
Following the public outcry, the Rivers State Police Command on Friday, October 16, queried and relieved the DPO in charge of Abuloma Division and the officer overseeing the affected outpost of their duties. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, the command said Commissioner of Police Olugbenga A. Adepoju had ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the renovation.
Investigators have been tasked to identify the individuals or groups that financed the project, establish which officers authorised the work, determine whether due procedures were followed, and ascertain whether any personnel breached professional standards. The command condemned any action capable of compromising the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force, stressing that police facilities must not become platforms for suspected criminal groups to gain recognition or influence.
Community Contributions Must Not Compromise Police Standards
Although the police acknowledged that communities could contribute to improving their facilities, it insisted that such assistance must not compromise police independence, security or professional standards. The command added that anyone found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary or legal action, depending on the findings of the investigation.
The incident has sparked widespread debate about the extent to which public institutions can accept help from private groups, especially those with suspected criminal ties. The investigation is ongoing, and the police have vowed to take decisive action against any officer found to have authorised or facilitated the renovation.
