A tense situation unfolded on Tuesday in Nkpolu Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, after a group of local youths allegedly assaulted and flogged a police officer, Inspector Joseph Nyian, whom they caught using illicit drugs.
The incident led to an intense police raid on the community.
Inspector Nyian, who does not live in the area, reportedly visited frequently and engaged in drug use. He was apprehended by the youths in a raid aimed at curbing the growing drug menace in their community.
The officer quickly went to the Police Command’s hospital in Port Harcourt, where he obtained a medical report, and subsequently filed charges of torture and theft against the youths, claiming they extorted N78,000 from him.
Nyian also stated that the youths attacked him while he was visiting his pregnant girlfriend.
The police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the officer’s version of events in a statement, describing the incident as a case of assault and extortion by the youths.
According to her, Nyian had been targeted by the youths because their president, Owhondah Chamberlain, had an interest in the officer’s girlfriend. In retaliation, police forces launched an operation in the community, arresting over 20 individuals.
The Nkpolu youths have long been concerned about the widespread drug use in their area, which they believe is destroying the lives of their peers.
Spearheaded by Chairman Owhondah Chamberlain, they have taken a hardline stance against the drug trade.
The youths initiated an “Operation Say No to Drugs,” which has seen them actively patrol their community, raiding known drug hotspots, and arresting dealers, whom they have handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The youths have been credited with successfully closing down all known drug-selling locations and stopping drug use in the community.
Chamberlain noted that the NDLEA had been supportive of their efforts, providing guidance and encouragement.
“We have completely eradicated drug sales and use in this community, and we won’t stop until the entire area is free of drugs,” Chamberlain said.
“We are committed to helping users stop their addiction, and we only send dealers to the NDLEA for proper investigation and prosecution.”
During one of their raids, the youths discovered that a man, who later turned out to be the police officer, was engaging in drug use with several others.
The officer allegedly tried to stop the youths from intervening, telling the other users that nothing would happen to them because he was a policeman.
Despite not being in uniform, the youths did not recognize him as a police officer and continued their mission to rid the community of drugs.
Chamberlain expressed disbelief at the officer’s behavior, stating, “He told the others that he was a cop and nothing would happen to them.
He even encouraged the continued use of drugs. It was then that we realized he was a police officer, but we were more focused on stopping the drug abuse in our community.”
The youths had no intention of taking the law into their hands but were adamant about protecting their community from the dangers of drug addiction.
They now believe the police officer is attempting to cover up his drug use by accusing them of extortion.
Chamberlain denied any wrongdoing, particularly the claim that he had accepted the N78,000 from Nyian, stating, “There is no truth to that claim. The police should investigate this and confirm that there is no such transaction.”
Local elders also weighed in on the devastating impact drugs have had on the youth in Nkpolu.
Mr. Okechukwu Aka, a community elder, expressed deep regret over the growing drug problem, noting that many young people who had gained university admissions had dropped out due to addiction.
Some even sold family properties at a fraction of their worth to fund their drug habits.
Aka explained, “Our children, who had bright futures, are now losing everything because of drugs. Some have sold properties worth millions for just a fraction of the price, all to buy drugs. We cannot stand by and watch our youths destroy themselves.”
The elder also highlighted the increasing number of women getting involved in drug abuse, a trend that was even more concerning than the situation with the men.
“The women are now more involved in drug abuse than the boys. This has to stop,” he added.
