The fight against police extortion and brutality is not dropping momentum any time soon. The #EndSARS protest that broke out in Lagos had spread across the country like a plague and, sooner than expected, became an eye opener for many Nigerians.
Indeed, years after that great protest, its effect still lingers, giving Nigerians the morale to stand up for their rights.
Now, the Plateau State command of the Nigeria Police Force has identified and arrested its officers who extorted some journalists of ₦100,000 in Jos, the state’s capital.
Confirming the development on Tuesday, the state Police Commissioner, CP Okoro Julius, said the arrested officers were attached to the anti-kidnapping unit of the state’s police command.
The Complain
The victim had approached the command to allege that some officers extorted the sum of ₦500,000 from them on October 15, 2023.
The police commissioner, who intervened in the matter, however, said the command found out during investigation, that the officers had collected ₦100,000 and not ₦500,000 as reported.
CP Julius said the money had since been recovered and returned to the complainants.
The Statement
The spokesperson for the state command, DSP Alabo Alfred, spoke via a statement.
He said: “Following the allegation of extortion by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) attached to the Plateau State Police Command reported by one Victor Ayeni of the Punch Newspaper on the 15th October 2023 with the headline, ‘ Policemen invaded our estate, force us to pay N500,000- Jos residents.”
The Plateau State Command has investigated the claim, identified the deviant officers, recovered exhibits and handed them over to the complainants.
Urgent Attention
“In a bid to ensure that the matter is given the urgent attention that it deserves, the commissioner of police Plateau State Command, CP Okoro J. Alawari, pcs on October, 16, 2023, invited the complainants, namely; Audu Michael and Bitrus Zakka to his office.
You May Like: Officers Fight Dirty As NDLEA Catches Inspector’s Wife Selling Cannabis
“There, the erring officers were paraded and interviewed before them.”
The PRO further stated that “contrary to the Punch report, one of the complainants, Audu Michael voluntarily disclosed to the Police that the Punch reporter, Victor Ayeni misrepresented and exaggerated the fact.
He did so by reporting that AKU operatives extorted the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦500,000) instead of One Hundred Thousand Naira (₦100,000) as alleged by the complainant, Mr Audu Michael.
The Trial
The Police boss who frowns at the unprofessional conduct of the affected officers assures Plateau residents that his administration will not harbour bad eggs in his Command.
He, therefore, ordered the OC Provost of the Command to commence the orderly room trial of the officers with immediate effect.
Alfred added that the police commissioner had urged the general public to always report Police unethical conduct to the Police Public Relations Department and Complaints Response Unit (CRU) of the command for prompt attention.
