The Nkpolu Divisional Police Headquarters at Mile 3, Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has invited a landlord, identified simply as Kenneth, for questioning over the alleged burglary of his tenant’s apartment on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
The invitation, conveyed via a phone call, followed an unsuccessful attempt by police officers to arrest him at his residence located off the road leading to Rivers State University’s main gate, as he was reportedly absent when officers visited.
Speaking with our correspondent, the tenant, Ikechukwu Ogbonnaya, alleged that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.
“My rent expired on March 31, and I have been making efforts to secure a new apartment. While I was asleep this morning, I heard a loud bang on the door separating my room from a vacant one. When I checked, it was my landlord who had forced his way into my apartment. I later discovered that money I kept in a black polythene bag, which I intended to use for travel, was missing,” he said.
Ogbonnaya said he immediately reported the matter to the police, noting that he had previously made an entry at the station. He called for justice, questioning the legality of a landlord forcibly entering a tenant’s apartment.
However, the landlord denied the allegations, insisting he neither broke into the apartment nor stole any money.
“The tenant’s rent expired on March 31, 2026. He refused to vacate the apartment and allegedly damaged the door himself before reporting to the police. How can I break a door in my own building? I did not steal any money. If he truly had such an amount, why hasn’t he secured another apartment and moved out?” Kenneth said.
Our correspondent, who visited the area on Tuesday, observed that personnel from the Nkpolu Police Division had conducted a preliminary investigation. Police officers reportedly informed the landlord’s family members to relay a message from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), directing him to report to the station.
It was also gathered that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) placed a call to the landlord, requesting his presence at the station.
Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, CSP Grace Iringe-Koko, for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
