The Nigeria Police Force has arrested three Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers over an alleged illegal escort operation in Ondo State, after one of the officers was initially apprehended in Ore while the other two reportedly escaped following a scuffle.
According to an internal police signal obtained by SaharaReporters, following the incident, the matter came to the attention of the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Akure, after the Area Police Commander (AIGPOL/MOPOL communication) alerted the authorities at about 6:30 p.m. over the arrest of Force Number 530219, Corporal Dambaki Abreme, reportedly attached to MOPOL 20, Lagos.
The signal said Corporal Dambaki was allegedly engaged in an illegal escort operation and was initially believed to have been dressed in a Civil Defence uniform and carrying related accoutrements.
He was reportedly in the company of two other police officers identified as Corporal Abdullahi, attached to MOPOL 44, Force Headquarters, Abuja, and Corporal Umar of MOPOL 41, Damaturu.
While Corporal Dambaki was arrested in Ore, Ondo State, the two other officers reportedly escaped after a scuffle.
The development subsequently triggered an alert from the Ore police authorities, with a signal circulated and the incident also reportedly making its way onto social media.
However, the internal communication later clarified that the clothing worn by Corporal Dambaki was not a Civil Defence uniform.
According to the police communication, the uniform was a black Special Forces denim outfit bearing MOPOL insignia and other Special Forces features.
“The uniform did not in any way resemble that of the Civil Defence,” the signal stated.
The police communication further accused the Ore Divisional Police authorities of raising an alarm based on grave ignorance and malevolence, saying the incident had exposed the Nigeria Police Force to negative publicity.
It also alleged that Corporal Dambaki was indeed on an illegal duty, despite the clarification over the identity of the uniform he was wearing.
The internal signal claimed that Dambaki had previously been demobilised and released from MOPOL 20, Ikeja, for deployment to Zamfara State, but allegedly failed to report to his new posting.
Instead, he was accused of remaining in Lagos and allegedly assembling a nest of impervious elements to conduct illegal escort operations.
The police said further measures had been taken following the incident, including the arrest of the two officers who initially escaped.
The two officers were reportedly arrested at about 2 p.m. and are currently being held in the custody of the Commander, MOPOL 20, Ikeja, pending their evacuation to Abuja.
The Commissioner of Police, Akure, was also reportedly directed to take disciplinary measures against the Ore Divisional Police authorities over the incident, particularly for allegedly exposing the Nigeria Police Force to what the internal communication described as “bad publicity.”
The Commander, MOPOL 20, Ikeja, was equally directed to work with the Commissioner of Police, Akure, to produce the three officers before the Inspector-General of Police on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
The police authorities described the conduct of the officers as an “embarrassment to the Force” and expressed regret over the development.
The internal communication stated that further developments concerning the matter would be communicated.