The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, has relieved the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) responsible for the area where journalists were assaulted during the Take It Back (TIB) protest in Port Harcourt on April 7, 2025.
CP Adepoju made the announcement on Friday, April 11, during a visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council Secretariat on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt. The visit was in response to the assault on several journalists, including a Channels TV reporter, whose equipment was seized while covering the protest.
Addressing members of the NUJ, led by State Chairman Paul Bazia, CP Adepoju expressed regret over the incident, describing it as shocking. He explained that he was in Abuja attending the grand finale of the 2025 National Police Day when he received the news and immediately contacted the DPO involved.
According to the Commissioner, the DPO failed to provide any justification for the officers’ actions, leading to his immediate removal. CP Adepoju also disclosed that officers captured in video footage of the incident are currently facing disciplinary actions.
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“Journalists were the first group I met with upon assuming office as Commissioner, to show how much we value your role. What happened is unfortunate, and I’m here with my management team to apologize. The DPO has been removed, and the officers involved are being punished,” he stated.
In response, NUJ Chairman Paul Bazia said he initially doubted reports of the assault until he saw video footage showing journalists fleeing through teargas. He emphasized that journalists were carrying out their constitutional duties and should not have been targeted by the police.
“Journalists have a duty to inform the public, just as the police have a duty to protect lives and property. We are pleased the DPO has been removed, but we also insist that the officers who carried out the assault must be punished,” Bazia said.
He further advised the Police Commissioner to ensure continuous reorientation of officers on professional conduct and to maintain open communication with the union.
CP Adepoju’s visit also marked the end of a 14-day ultimatum issued by the NUJ demanding an apology from the police. Both parties agreed on measures to prevent future occurrences of such incidents.
The CP was accompanied by top officers of the command, including the Deputy Commissioners of Operations and the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Administration and Finance), and the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe Koko.
The meeting ended with a group photograph, symbolizing the beginning of renewed collaboration between the police and the media in Rivers State.
