Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has removed six Commanding Officers (COs) of the Nigeria Police Force Mobile Police (MOPOL) and Operations units attached to TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following allegations that they operated a systematic extortion scheme targeting officers under their command.

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According to SaharaReporters, the officers were quietly redeployed last week after an investigative panel set up by the IGP reportedly indicted them over the alleged collection of ₦70,000 monthly kickbacks from personnel assigned to protect the multinational oil company’s facilities.

Sources familiar with the investigation said the disciplinary action followed reports exposing alleged abuse of office, extortion and poor welfare conditions affecting officers on special duty. Although many officers initially denied the allegations during the panel’s visit out of fear of reprisals, some later submitted documentary evidence to investigators after the team returned to Abuja.

The evidence reportedly prompted the Force Headquarters to remove all six commanding officers and replace them with new commanders, while officers allegedly used to collect the money were recommended for prosecution.

According to the sources, the affected commanders are now lobbying to prevent the prosecution of their subordinates and may eventually be demobilised from MOPOL and returned to conventional policing in various state commands.

The allegations stem from claims that after TotalEnergies increased the special duty allowance for deployed officers to ₦220,000, the commanding officers allegedly ordered each officer to remit ₦70,000 monthly as compulsory “returns,” warning that anyone who refused would be removed from the deployment. The Nigeria Police Force has not publicly commented on the reported disciplinary measures.