By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has pledged full investigation and vowed to ensure justice over the case of some police officers who allegedly extorted the sum of N200,000 from a drink seller around the ever-busy Upper Iweka axis of Onitsha, further assuring the public that the Command will not shield any officer found culpable in the incident.
The reaction and reassurance followed the recent and video that started trending on social media over the weekend, in which a woman narrated how her husband, a drinks seller, was allegedly harassed, handcuffed and extorted after being stopped by some policemen while returning from Relief Market where he went to buy drinks with his bus.
According to the wife in the trending video, her husband was intercepted under the Upper Iweka flyover by the police officers, who demanded the particulars of his vehicle, which she said he presented and were found to be complete and valid.
She alleged that despite the documents being in order, the officers reportedly questioned why the bus was painted white, and thereafter directed him to meet their “Ọga” inside their patrol vehicle.
The woman further claimed that upon approaching the vehicle, the officers allegedly surrounded her husband, handcuffed him, seized his phone and drove him to an unknown destination where he was accused of being a thief and pressured to pay ₦500,000 before he could regain his freedom.
She said the victim, who was confused and frightened throughout the incident, was eventually forced to transfer the sum of ₦200,000 through a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator allegedly invited by the officers, after which he was released.
According to her, the matter was later reported at the Okpoko Police Division in Onitsha, where the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) was said to have immediately swung into action and commenced investigation into the complaint, which eventually led to the identification and arrest of the officers involved and the recovery of the money allegedly extorted from the victim.
She said the officers initially denied but later admitted and confessed to the crime and returned the money they extorted from the man to him. According to her, although, the officers were not from Okpoko Division, the DPO insisted on ensuring that they were fully investigated and justice served, despite having returned the extorted money to the owner.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Command had already taken steps to investigate the incident even before the video went viral.
He confirmed that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Okpoko Division had earlier intercepted the complaint and immediately initiated efforts to identify the officers allegedly involved in the act.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed that the officers concerned be produced for necessary investigation and possible disciplinary action in line with the provisions and professional standards of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Command also confirmed that preliminary findings showed that the money allegedly collected from the victim had been recovered and returned, describing as a serious indictment pointing to unprofessional conduct on the part of the officers.
The statement also noted that the involvement of a POS operator in the transaction suggests possible conspiracy, adding that the matter is still under investigation to determine the level of culpability of all persons connected with the incident.
The Police Command stressed that it will not condone any act of extortion, intimidation or abuse of office, reiterating its commitment to professionalism, accountability and the protection of the rights of citizens.
It assured members of the public that appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against any officer found wanting after the investigation, while further developments on the matter will be made public.
The Command also urged residents to continue to report any form of misconduct by security personnel through the appropriate channels, noting that public cooperation remains essential in strengthening transparency and improving policing in the state.
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