By Precious Ahiakwo
What began as a grassroots war against drugs in Nkpolu, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, has exploded into a storm of controversy after a police officer allegedly caught taking illicit drugs was beaten by community youths — and later returned with a full squad of armed men to arrest residents.
The dramatic showdown unfolded Tuesday evening when about eight police vans filled with fierce-looking operatives stormed Nkpolu, arresting scores of men, women, and youths. The invasion was reportedly led by Inspector Joshua Nyian, the very officer the community accused of drug use and flogged days earlier during their “No Drug Abuse” campaign.
The youths, led by their president, Comrade Owhondah Chamberlain, claimed they had no idea Nyian was a policeman since he was not in uniform when they intercepted him and two others allegedly taking drugs.
> “We caught him and others using drugs. If he denies it, let him go for a drug test. We never took a dime from him,” Chamberlain declared, challenging police to check bank records for proof of the alleged ₦78,000 extortion.
But the police fired back. In a statement, spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko insisted that Nyian was the victim — alleging he was attacked by about 20 youths, stripped of his ID card and phone, beaten, recorded on video, and robbed of ₦78,000. The officer further alleged that the assault may have been fueled by rivalry over a pregnant woman believed to be his lover.
The Nkpolu youths, however, maintained their stance, insisting their campaign was strictly to cleanse the community of hard drugs and noting that all suspects arrested so far had been handed over to the NDLEA.
