Youths in Nkpolu community, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, have flogged a serving Nigerian police officer in the state and two other men for alleged use of hard drugs.
It was gathered that the youth leadership launched a campaign of ‘No to Drug Abuse’ following the increasing rate of drug use in the community.
It was further learnt that most members of the community have lost their homes and valuable possessions due to drug use.
According to reports, the youths stormed a drug hideout and arrested the three individuals, including the police officer.
In a video sighted online, the officer identified himself as Joshua Eyong, serving in Obio/Akpor Local Council division.
Eyong, who showed his service Identity Card to the youths, did not dispute the claims made by the youths who apprehended them.
Speaking, the Youth President of Nkpolu community, Owhonda Chamberlain, said the three individuals were arrested in line with their resolve to end drug abuse in their community.
Chamberlain regretted that most of the youths of their area have lost their homes to drug use, adding that drugs are hurting their youths, hence the move for an end.
“There is a campaign going on in our community headed by the youths of Nkpolu, following the powers given to me as the youth president to ensure that there are no drugs in our community,” he said.
“We discovered that some of our children do not have homes. We found that the property that their parents struggled with is being sold for drugs. What they do is that after taking drugs worth N3,000,000, they sell their house for N4,000,000.
“The drug dealer will now give them N1,000,000. Nkpolu has decided that there will be no drug dealer, no drug smoker in our community again. If you want to take drugs, go to Rumuaghorlu, go to hotels. It should not be something that should be done here.”
The Rivers State Police Command has reacted to the incident.
The Police in a press statement signed by its spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said they received a complaint of a disturbing incident where a police officer, Inspector Joshua Nyian, attached to Woji Division, was allegedly assaulted and robbed by the Nkpolu Youth President and about 20 youths.
According to Iringe-Koko, the incident occurred on August 24, 2025, at about 10:20 a.m. when Inspector Nyian visited his pregnant girlfriend in Nkpolu.
Giving Nyian a testimony in his complaint, the youths reportedly accosted him, beat him up, dragged him to the main road, and seized his police identity card and phone.
The officer further alleged that the youths recorded him on video and collected ₦78,000 from him.
He claimed that the Youth President had been making advances to his girlfriend, which may have prompted the attack.
Iringe-Koko confirmed that the officer’s statement was recorded, and a medical form was issued to him for treatment.
She further noted that the Command has urged the youth president and others involved to come forward with their evidence, assuring the public that justice will be served.
Iringe-Koko urged community leaders to caution their youths against taking the law into their hands. “The Command assures the public that justice will be served and urges community leaders to caution their youths against taking the law into their hands,” she said.
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