The Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, Augustina Ogbodo, emphasized the Command’s firm stance against extortion and any form of misconduct. This assertion was conveyed in a statement released to the press in Abakaliki by the Command’s spokesperson, Onome Onovwakpoyeya.
She underscored that any police personnel found engaged in such behaviors would be subjected to the full force of legal consequences. Ogbodo’s response was prompted by allegations leveled by Mr. Sampson Oko Nweke, Chairman of Human Rights Defenders, accusing officers of the Ebonyi State Police Command of various transgressions, spanning from human rights violations to extortion.
Parts of the statement read, “The Police Command has zero tolerance for extortion, incivility to members of the public, unlawful arrest and detention and lastly brutality to the civil populace, and the CP has made this known in her numerous engagements and interactions with members of the public.
“The allegations contained in the press statement were never at any point in time either reported to the Police Public Relations Office or to the Commissioner of Police.
“Apart from the unfortunate incident that happened on the 2nd of December 2023, consequent upon which the Commissioner of Police has ordered an investigation and that any officer found wanting must be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“It apparently, appears that some persons are out to attack the Command and the person of the Commissioner of Police unjustly since the allegations contained therein cannot be substantiated as it was not established in any form anywhere in the Command.”
