The Rivers State Police have apprehended four officers for allegedly assaulting and extorting N6.5 million from three individuals.
These officers reportedly picked up the men from Omoluwabi in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, labeling them as ‘Yahoo boys,’ and transported them to Delta State. There, they allegedly seized the sum mentioned above after detaining the individuals for two days.
The incident took place on July 31, 2023, and the men were released on August 1, 2023, following the collection of the money.
Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, announced during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Monday that he is actively working to eliminate misconduct within the command by parading the arrested officers.
“You can see some police officers have been in detention for more than two weeks now for an offense.
“They are not from this command, but we arrested them to show that we are here to purge ourselves.
“I don’t think any other organization has been more purgative like the police in cleaning up bad eggs in their system and I stand to be challenged on that,” he stated.
Although the state police commissioner did not disclose the exact amount involved or the identities of the arrested officers, our correspondent, who has been tracking the case, learned that the sum in question amounted to N6.5 million.
Additionally, CP Nwonyi presented another group of four officers, comprising three inspectors, who were apprehended and detained on charges of allegedly assaulting a female commuter.
He said the officers were on a stop and search operation when they allegedly assaulted the lady around Arcania junction, Ada George Road, Port Harcourt on Sunday.
Emeka said upon receiving a complaint of assault, his men swung into action and rounded up the accused officers, adding that an investigation had been launched to unravel what transpired.
He stated, “On Sunday, 3rd of September, 2023, at about 10.20 hours, based on complaint of unprofessional conduct and incivility to members of the public on social media by the officers of the Nigerian Police force, Rivers State command, where a woman was allegedly assaulted by Policemen on stop and search duty at Arcania junction on Ada George, Port Harcourt.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, the commander of the CP monitoring unit swung into action and identified the officers as men of an anti-cultism unit on stop and search led by Inspector.
“Agba Emmanuel, and three others namely; Inspector Abgani Peter, Inspector Ozenewa Amadi, and Sargeant Akuigbo Batholomeo.
“They have all been arrested and in custody undergoing interrogation. Also, I am appealing to the lady who was assaulted to come to my command and give us her side of the incident for proper investigation to be carried out
“Security is everyone’s business, curbing crime in our society is everybody’s responsibility. Once again, I want to assure you that we fight crime to a standstill to the best of our ability and I also want to welcome members of the public to the Rivers State zero crime, it’s a must.
“We must fight, a crime against the citizens is a crime against all of us. The policemen here are determined for that.”
