Shock and grief have rippled through the Rivers State Police Command following the arrest of an inspector over the fatal shooting of a fellow officer during a security assignment in Port Harcourt.
Police authorities confirmed that Inspector Victor Okus has been taken into custody in connection with the death of Inspector Ibrahim Sani, who was shot while on duty at Next Cash and Carry Supermart, Trans-Amadi, on Sunday, 18 January 2026.
In a statement released on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the incident occurred in the early afternoon and left another officer, Inspector Daniel Dauda, seriously injured.
According to the police, both victims were attached to the 14 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Yola, and were providing joint security alongside military personnel at the time of the shooting.
A senior police officer, DSP Turaki Hassan, explained that the shooting happened at about 1:20pm, when Inspector Okus—who is attached to 17 PMF and was on special assignment at Intels, Onne—allegedly opened fire, hitting the two officers in the head and neck regions.
The wounded officers were immediately rushed to Nopsam Hospital in Port Harcourt. Inspector Sani was later pronounced dead, while Inspector Dauda remains under medical care.
Police said the deceased officer’s body has been deposited at the Military Hospital Mortuary in Port Harcourt for preservation and autopsy.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, ordered a comprehensive and transparent investigation, assuring the public that the matter would be thoroughly addressed.
The suspect is expected to face an Orderly Room Trial before being formally charged to court.
Commissioner Adepoju also issued a stern warning to officers on the handling of firearms, stressing that negligence could lead to irreversible consequences.
“Handling firearms while on duty is a serious responsibility, not a routine task. Officers must prioritise their safety and the safety of others to prevent avoidable tragedies,” he said.
The Rivers State Police Command expressed condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late Inspector Ibrahim Sani.
