Police Arrest Three MOPOL Officers Over Illegal Escort

 

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested three Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers over an alleged illegal escort operation in Ore, Ondo State, with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, directing that the officers be produced before him for further action.

The development followed the arrest of one of the officers, Corporal Dambaki Abreme, in Ore, after he was allegedly found operating an escort service without proper authorisation.

Two other officers who were reportedly with Dambaki initially escaped after a scuffle but were subsequently arrested by the police.

According to an internal police communication obtained on Monday, the incident was brought to the attention of the Ondo State Commissioner of Police after the Area Police Commander alerted the authorities at about 6:30pm.

Dambaki was identified as a member of MOPOL 20, Lagos, while the other two officers were identified as Corporal Abdullahi of MOPOL 44, Force Headquarters, Abuja, and Corporal Umar of MOPOL 41, Damaturu.

Initial reports had suggested that Dambaki was dressed in a Civil Defence uniform and carrying equipment associated with the agency. However, the police communication later clarified that he was wearing a black Special Forces denim outfit bearing MOPOL insignia.

The police said the clarification about the uniform did not change the allegation that Dambaki was engaged in an unauthorised escort operation.

The internal communication further alleged that Dambaki had previously been demobilised and released from MOPOL 20, Ikeja, for deployment to Zamfara State but failed to report to his new posting.

Instead, he allegedly remained in Lagos and assembled other officers to conduct escort operations outside authorised police duties.

The two officers who initially escaped were later arrested and taken into custody by the Commander, MOPOL 20, Ikeja, pending their transfer to Abuja.

Police authorities described the conduct of the three officers as an embarrassment to the Force and ordered that they be produced before the Inspector-General of Police on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, for further investigation and disciplinary action.

The Ondo State Commissioner of Police was also directed to take appropriate disciplinary measures against the Ore Divisional Police authorities over their handling of the incident, which the internal communication said had exposed the Force to negative publicity.

The police authorities said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses. The latest action underscores renewed efforts by the police hierarchy to enforce discipline among personnel and curb unauthorised activities capable of damaging the reputations of the Force.