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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The police have confirmed the arrest of the officers who allegedly extorted N3 million from a man in Bayelsa State.
Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a post on his X account on Thursday.
Some police operatives allegedly extorted money from the man, Kelechi Isaac, on August 26 August in Odi, Bayelsa State.
Isaac, who is based in Ghana, hails from Nguru Nworie, a community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
The victim narrated that five police officers flagged down his vehicle while he was driving back from a marriage ceremony with two of his friends.
He said the operatives forced him at gunpoint to transfer the N3 million to two separate bank accounts.
On Monday, the police authorities announced that the operatives involved in the extortion had been “identified.”
The police said the operatives are from Zone 16 Police Headquarters, covering Bayelsa and Rivers States.
Giving an update on the matter on Thursday, the Adejobi: “The policemen involved in this case of extortion of N3 million have been arrested.”
He said authorities of Zone 16 Police Headquarters have been asked to produce the operatives at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
“The Force Headquarters will continue to sanitise the system and ensure justice is done in all cases brought to its notice,” the Force spokesperson added.
Money recovered, but hasn’t been returned to me-Victim
The victim, Isaac, also confirmed that the N3 million has been recovered from the operatives, but has not yet been returned to him.
Speaking to newsmen on Thursday, Isaac said Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone 16 Headquarters, Paul Omata, informed him of the development.
“They haven’t returned the money. I was in Bayelsa yesterday (Wednesday). They said the money is there (in Bayelsa). But they will not return the money to me because there is no order from IGP to release the money to me.
“They said the policemen are being moved to Abuja, but they have not gotten to Abuja for the IGP to see them and give orders. So they said they are waiting for directives from the IGP (to return the money to me),” he said.
