The Enugu State Police Command has announced that officers from the Awkunanaw Police Station in Garriki, accused of extorting ₦1 million from a traveller, will face disciplinary action and prosecution.
The victim, who detailed the incident on the social media platform X, alleged that the officers stopped an inter-state commercial bus carrying his brother, kidnapped him, and took him to an undisclosed village, where they extorted the money.
“Nigerian police officers in Enugu kidnapped my younger brother, took him to an unknown village, and extorted ₦1m from him. POS charged ₦50k as fees,” the victim, @Mr_Robmichael1, wrote.
Providing updates, the victim disclosed that the officers were identified, and the case was reported to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Dan Ndukwe, and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Awkunanaw Police Station. He added that the officers refunded the extorted amount after the intervention of the DPO.
“Thanks to the DPO, Mr. Chukwuegu Longinus, who immediately drove to the checkpoint, identified the officers, and ensured the money was refunded. The ₦1m has been recovered, but it’s truly a mess here in Nigeria,” @Mr_Robmichael1 stated.
Reacting to the incident, Dan Ndukwe described the extortion as “unacceptable” and vowed that the involved officers would face justice.
“Refunding the money isn’t enough. These officers will face the consequences of their actions. There is no room for such misconduct in the Nigeria Police Force,” Ndukwe wrote on X.
This incident follows a similar case reported in September, where four officers of the Lagos State Police Command were accused of extorting ₦1 million from three National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Surulere. According to reports, the officers stopped the corps members’ vehicle along the expressway, conducted a search, and later took them to the Area C Police Station, where the extortion occurred. The officers are currently undergoing trial.
How everything unfolded:
They stopped the @PMTNigeria bus he was on, & asked all passengers to come down for a stop and search, my brother came down with this luggage & left his other small bag on the seat.
They turned it around & said he was hiding something inside the bag….. https://t.co/LSIITVw6lD pic.twitter.com/SBTwbaKfFe— CLONE Mr_robmichael pittied you and ✸, ✸ ⊻ (@Mr_Robmichael1) December 8, 2024