The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has removed six Commanding Officers (COs) of the Nigeria Police Force Mobile Personnel (MOPOL) and Operations units attached to TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Limited (formerly Total E&P) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to reports, the development follows allegations that the commanding officers orchestrated a systematic extortion scheme targeting officers under their command.

The officers were quietly removed last week after a police investigative panel set up by the IGP indicted them over the alleged illegal collection of ₦70,000 monthly kickbacks from personnel deployed to protect the multinational oil company’s facilities.

Sources familiar with the development told the saharareporters on Thursday that the disciplinary action followed an earlier investigation published by the newspaper exposing widespread extortion, abuse of office and poor welfare conditions within the special duty deployment.

According to one of the sources, the Force Headquarters initially encountered resistance during its investigation because many affected officers were afraid to speak openly.