September 13, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the Imo State Police Command, on Tuesday, arrested suspected security officers, over alleged extortion from the public.
Parading the criminals — Three (3) National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), operatives of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Two (2) Inspectors of the Nigeria Police, at the Command’s headquarters, Owerri, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Barde, said the culprits were arrested in connection to the outcry by the general public over extortion.
“These are the security operatives hiding under the umbrella of Operation Search Flush in Imo State, harassing and extorting unsuspecting members of the public, in particular the youths, to the tune of thousands of Naira via Point of Service (POS), seizing and checking their phones and thereby bringing untold hardship on them.
“Immediately the Inspector General of Police (IGP) came onboard, he met with us last Friday, these two men wrote to me on how they were extorted of Three Hundred Thousand (300,000) by these security officers and they diverted the money into their banks accounts”, the CP stated.
On legal measures to be taken on the matter, CP Barde disclosed that investigations will begin immediately and, therefore, warned the general public to be wary of subjecting themselves to some security officers.
The suspects include David Nwaji, Nwaka Ikechukwu – NDLEA; Obijiaku Israel, Omodi Timothy – NSCDC; and Odidika Augustine, Police Inspector.
Speaking to the press, the suspects admitted to the crimes — extortion, mobile phones thefts and diversion of money into their personal bank accounts.
