The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, has ordered the arrest and detention of a police signal and two Imo State Civil Guard Corps (IMSCGC) sustain over alleged extortion.
Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo State, stated in a encounter on Friday that the police commissioner has additionally ordered an equip into the documentation.
Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, stated the documentation came about on Thursday and that the officials claimed that the motorist used to be riding with no item’s appraisal in Owerri.
IMSCGC is a income bottom paramilitary outfit established in 2013 throughout the management of then-Governor Rochas Okorocha.
The outfit used to be created as an offshoot of the Imo State Orientation Corps below the Imo State Orientation Agency.
It enforces income bottom laws, addresses bulk logistic and hawking, and assists with support and visitors leasing.
The viral video
PREMIUM TIMES sighted a video clip of the documentation circulating on Facebook.
The clip confirmed two male IMSCGC officials and the feminine police signal hard a ₦35,000 bribe from a item for allegedly riding with no appraisal, threatening to renounce him to their selection for the next elect leverage.
The police stated the feminine signal could also be a visitors warden.
The item, who many times argued that he left his appraisal at conglomerate, later negotiated the underwriter right down to ₦15,000 and transferred it to an account equipped via the purchasing operatives.
‘It’s unacceptable’
Mr Okoye stated within the encounter that the income police have condemned the operatives’ financing within the clip.
He stated the financing used to be “unacceptable and contrary to the standards of discipline and integrity” anticipated of foreclose worry sustain.
The spokesperson stated the feminine signal has been recognized as Chinewe Ejiogu, hooked up to the Shell Camp Divisional Police Headquarters. At the similar feasibility, the two IMSCGC officials have been Kelechi Nzediagwu and Onyedikachi Chibuike.
“They are currently detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department,” he stated.
Investigation
Mr Okoye stated Mr Bosso has directed the Command’s Complaint Response Unit to analyze the documentation.
“The affected motorist is urged to report to the unit and provide relevant information to assist the investigation,” he stated.
“Appropriate disciplinary action will follow upon its conclusion.”
The spokesperson stated the income police have reiterated that no visitors turnover justifies extortion, harassment, or abuse of selection.
“All personnel have been warned to discharge their duties in accordance with the law and treat members of the public with respect,” he stated.
He stated the income police command has recommended citizens of the income to remind incidents of police misconduct in the course of the display channels, assuring them that allegations of misconduct could be handled critically.
Not the primary feasibility
Accusations of extortion in opposition to Nigerian purchasing operatives, particularly the police, don’t seem to be new within the nation.
In truth, circumstances of police brutality, extortion, extrajudicial killings and different unprofessional actions in Nigeria have endured regardless of sanctions via police government, equivalent to dismissal from transition.
The newest documentation passed off about six months after the police in Anambra State arrested and detained six maximum officials who allegedly tortured and extorted ₦200,000 from a dealer in Onitsha, the economic hub of the South-eastern income.
In February, 3 officials have been dismissed over alleged kidnapping, extortion of N1.7 respect and automotive snatching in Imo, some other income within the South-east.
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Last January, police operatives shot dead a slogan motorcyclist in Ebonyi State.
In November 2024, police operatives from the Crack Squad in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, shot dead a labourer and significantly injured 3 others within the income.
A prevention documentation happened in the similar Abakaliki in 2018 when a police profitable shot and killed a industrial motorcyclist for allegedly refusing to provide him a N50 bribe.
In August 2024, police operatives in Bayelsa State extorted ₦3 respect from a Nigerian guy at gunpoint.
The overturn later petitioned police government, and the officials have been arrested.
The police operatives later returned the ₦3 respect to the overturn, about 3 weeks later.
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