A tragic incident rocked Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday after an Inspector of Police, identified as Victor Okus, allegedly shot two of his fellow officers following an altercation.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting are still unclear, but sources said the officers were all attached to the Police Mobile Force and were on special duty at Intels, Onne, before the incident occurred. The shooting reportedly took place at the Next Cash and Carry Supermarket in the Trans-Amadi area of the city.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed that Okus was immediately arrested after the incident and is currently in police custody.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, described the incident as sad and distressing. She said it happened on January 18, 2026, and claimed the life of one officer, while another was left battling for survival.
According to her, Inspector Ibrahim Sani died after sustaining gunshot injuries, while Inspector Daniel Dauda was rushed to hospital and is still receiving medical treatment. Both officers were attached to 14 Police Mobile Force, Yola, and were on joint guard duty with military personnel at the time of the incident.
Iringe-Koko explained that preliminary investigations revealed that Inspector Okus, who was attached to 17 PMF but on special assignment at Intels, allegedly opened fire on his colleagues, shooting them in the head and neck regions. The injured officers were taken to Nopsam Hospital, where Inspector Sani was confirmed dead. His remains have since been deposited at the Military Hospital Mortuary in Port Harcourt for autopsy.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Olugbenga Adepoju, ordered a full-scale investigation to uncover the circumstances that led to the shooting. He also directed that the suspect be subjected to an Orderly Room Trial and subsequently charged to court.
The police commissioner extended condolences to the family of the deceased officer and warned personnel to exercise utmost professionalism and caution in the handling of firearms. He stressed that the use of service weapons is a serious responsibility and must be handled with discipline to prevent avoidable tragedies.
