Rédaction Africa Links 24 with George Kaduna
Published on 2024-02-24 09:44:10
The Nigerian Police Force headquarters in Abuja has taken action against some officers accused of extorting N30.3 million from a Nigerian citizen. According to the Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the officers were serving at the Special Tactical Squad in Abuja. The officers involved initially escaped during the investigations but have now been arrested and are in custody.
In a statement posted on X, Adejobi, an assistant police commissioner, mentioned that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, was committed to upholding integrity and accountability within the Nigeria Police Force. Accordingly, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated to ensure that justice is swiftly and decisively served.
The background to this incident involves a human rights activist in Delta State, Harrison Gwamnishu, who raised the alarm about the extortion on social media. Adejobi acknowledged receiving notice of the incident on the microblogging platform but did not mention the activist by name. Gwamnishu initially reported the extortion on Twitter and later increased the amount involved to N30.3 million, identifying the accused officers as serving at the Inspector General of Police Tactical Squad (IGP-STS).
The police spokesperson reacted to Gwamnishu’s tweets, indicating that an investigation had been initiated and justice would be served. The activist continued to provide updates on the situation, revealing that some of the officers involved were in hiding and calling on the police to declare them wanted.
Gwamnishu has been actively using social media to expose cases of police extortion. In Rivers State, he reported a $3,000 extortion case, leading to the recovery of the money and the recommendation of three officers for dismissal. In Delta State, he highlighted a N2.4 million extortion case involving a divisional crimes officer. The police commissioner took action by removing the officer from his post, and an investigation into the matter was ongoing.
The incident is part of a concerning trend of police extortion cases in Nigeria. In response, the IGP issued a statement warning officers against using his name to extort money from citizens.
Overall, the efforts to hold the officers involved in the extortion case accountable demonstrate a commitment to integrity and transparency within the Nigerian Police Force. By addressing such misconduct and taking disciplinary action, the authorities are working towards upholding the highest standards of professionalism and accountability in law enforcement.
Read the original article on Premium Times
