The police in Edo State, Nigeria’s South-south, say they have recovered N300,000 that their operatives in the state allegedly extorted from a furniture maker.
In a statement on Sunday, Moses Yamu, the police spokesperson in Edo, said the operatives involved in the act have been detained and are to face disciplinary action.
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The arrested operatives are attached to the Oba Market Area Command, Benin.
In a viral video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on 11 September, a social influencer known as Mama Pee, was seen confronting police operatives during a visit to the Oba Market Area Command.
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In the video, she said that operatives allegedly extorted N300,000 from an unnamed furniture maker.
The influencer said the operatives had accused the victim of being a “Yahøø boy” (Internet fraudster), searched his phone without finding anything incriminating, before he demanded N3 million.
“The young man later pleaded with them and was forced to pay the N300,000 he had,” she said.
In another video posted on X on 13 September, the influencer said the money had been recovered.
Money returned to the owner
In the Sunday statement, Mr Yamu, a chief superintendent of police, said the police have detained the operatives, and the money recovered and returned to the victim.
Mr Yamu added that “stern administrative measures” have been taken against the Oba Market Area Command to ensure professionalism, discipline, and respect for the rights of citizens.
The police spokesperson said that the Commissioner of Police in Edo, Monday Agbonika, has asked the public to report any unprofessional conduct by police operatives to the Public Complaints Bureau or the Complaints Response Unit through their dedicated telephone lines.
The police assured Edo residents of their commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability in service delivery.
Not the first time
Cases of police brutality, extortion, and other unprofessional activities in Nigeria have continued despite sanctions by police authorities, such as dismissal from service.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, ordered the detention of three inspectors in June for extorting a man.
In February, police authorities in Abia State dismissed three officers for allegedly engaging in abduction and extortion.
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Within the same month, police in Imo State launched an investigation into the alleged extortion and assault of a couple by operatives in the state.
The Imo extortion occurred less than one week after police authorities began interrogation of officers who were filmed assaulting a man in Abia State.
In October, last year, police in Ebonyi began an orderly room trial of officers filmed extorting motorists in the state.
Within the same period, the police in Imo State began another orderly room trial of four officers seen in a viral video clip extorting motorists in the state.
About three months earlier, police operatives in Bayelsa State extorted N3 million from a man at gunpoint.
The officers were subsequently arrested after the victim petitioned police authorities. The police operatives returned the N3 million to the victim, about three weeks later.
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