Police Officers Detained On Charges Of Extorting N30 Million

The Nigerian Police, Force headquarters, Abuja, has detained some officers over an alleged extortion of N30.3 million from a Nigerian.

Some officers of the Nigerian Police Force headquarters in Abuja have been placed under arrest in connection with an alleged N30.3 million extortion from a Nigerian.

This was revealed in a statement that the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, posted on X on Friday.

The officers' identities were kept a secret by Assistant Police Commissioner Mr. Adejobi, but he did reveal that they were part of the Special Tactical Squad in Abuja.

“The Nigeria Police wishes to reveal and announce that significant progress has been made in apprehending the officers and their accomplices responsible for this unprofessional conduct as the squad who initially escaped upon commencement of investigations have been arrested and are currently in custody.

“The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun as part of his commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability within the Nigeria Police Force, has ordered the commencement of disciplinary proceedings to ensure that justice is served swiftly and decisively,” Mr Adejobi said.

Harrison Gwamnishu, a human rights advocate in Delta State, alerted the police to the extortion via his X handle.

Mr. Adejobi admitted learning about the purported extortion on the microblogging site, but he did not mention Mr. Gwamnishu's name.

The alleged extortion was first posted on X on January 25 by Mr. Gwamnishu, who initially valued it at N29.9 million.

He updated the post two days later on January 27, raising the amount to N30.3 million and naming the accused officers as members of the Inspector General of Police Tactical Squad (IGP-STS).

“Their office is located at the former Abattoir, former SARS office Abuja. They have been identified. (The) POS have been identified too,” he wrote on X, apparently the money was paid to the police officers through a POS agent.

The Force representative responded to the tweet a few hours later, saying, “We have taken over this case at the FHQ. On Friday, Harrsion and the victims visited my office, and we started looking into the matter. There will be justice done.”

Mr. Gwamnishu stated on X on February 5th that “the other four police officers involved have been in hiding since 25 January” in addition to the POS agent and the police driver who are being held in connection with the N30.3 million extortion. He requested that they be listed as wanted by the police.

He alerted the Rivers State police to an alleged $3,000 extortion by certain state officers. After looking into the claim, finding the money and giving it back to the victim, the police suggested that three officers be fired.

The commissioner of police in Delta State removed the divisional crimes officer from his position after Mr. Gwamnishu, also through X, informed the police of an alleged N2.4 million extortion by the officer in the Abraka area.

His assertion that the Divisional Police Officer in Abraka received N900,000 from the funds was further supported by evidence. The claim was being looked into, according to state police spokesperson Bright Edafe, who spoke with a reporter.

The IGP issued a statement cautioning officers against using his name to extort Nigerians in response to an increase in police extortion cases since the year's beginning.