The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a Ghanaian national, Mr Samuel Frimpong, for allegedly removing the roof of his tenant’s apartment in Mgbuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The tenant, Mr Anozie Tochukwu, who lives at No. 7 Chief Chike Street, Mgbuoba, claimed the incident happened after his landlord insisted he vacate the apartment following the expiration of a two-week grace period.
According to Tochukwu, he moved into the house in January 2024 and had been paying his rent consistently. He said the landlord later informed him towards the end of 2025 that the building would be renovated and asked him not to renew his tenancy, which was expected to end in January 2026.
He explained that on February 1, 2026, he pleaded with the landlord to allow him stay for an additional 14 days, after showing evidence that he had paid for a new apartment and was preparing to relocate by February 14.
However, he said he was shocked when his wife called him on the morning of February 3, 2026, to report that the landlord had removed the roof of their apartment.
Tochukwu said heavy rainfall later destroyed several of his belongings, including important documents and household items, while exposing his pregnant wife and two young children to harsh weather conditions.
He claimed properties worth about ₦25 million were damaged, including a television, deep freezer, furniture, certificates, clothes, food items, bed materials, medications, and children’s documents. He also alleged that some items, including his ceiling fan and a savings box containing nearly nine months of savings, went missing.
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It was gathered that detectives from the Ozuoba Police Division arrested Frimpong on Wednesday, February 3, 2026, after the case was reported.
Confirming the arrest, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the suspect is currently in police custody and investigations are ongoing. She added that the landlord may be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.
Meanwhile, a legal practitioner with a human rights group, Lawyers Watch for Justice International Initiative, Raymond Okocha, condemned the act, describing it as a serious violation of the law and the tenant’s fundamental rights.
Okocha stressed that under Nigerian law, landlords are not allowed to evict tenants through force or destruction of property, but must follow due legal procedures through the courts.
