Three Rivers State police officers who were allegedly involved in the extortion of $3,000 from two travelers in Abia State will face an orderly trial in court.
The state police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, revealed this on Monday in Port Harcourt, while the three officers were being paraded, the Punch newspaper reported.
Mrs Iringe-Koko, Superintendent of Police, identified the officers as two Deputy Superintendents of Police, Doubara Edonyabo and Talent Mungo, and an Inspector, Odey Michael.
He said the action was part of internal disciplinary measures taken against officers for their involvement in illegal activities.
Extortion
A human rights activist in Delta State, Harrison Gwamnishu, made a post on ” in Port Harcourt.
“Police officers attached to Rivers State Command left Port Harcourt towards Aba, Abia State, arrested the man, took him to Rivers State, Bayelsa State and entered Ughelli, Delta State.
“After paying 3,000 USDT, he was taken back to Port Harcourt and abandoned. Let it be on record that the Commissioner of Police of Rivers State is aware of this kidnapping by men under his supervision,” he wrote in X.
A few hours later, Mrs Iringe-Koko in her terse reaction to the post on X said: “The police officers have been identified and arrested while the investigation is ongoing.”
He assured last Friday that the result of the police investigation would be made public.
Mrs Iringe-Koko, in a statement on Monday, said the $3,000, an amount equivalent to N4.2 million, had been recovered from the officers and returned to the victims on January 18.
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“The victims were arrested in Abia State and taken to Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States respectively for alleged fraud by a yet to be seen complainant,” he said without revealing the identities of the victims, their crime and why they were carried to the three states.
“Following a thorough investigation, it has been established that the actions of the officers concerned clearly violated the law and the ethical standards expected of members of the Nigerian Police Force.
“As a result, appropriate disciplinary action is being taken to address this serious misconduct.”
He said the two assistant superintendents of police have been given official queries, while the inspector has been scheduled for an orderly court trial.
According to her, the errant officers were publicly displayed for transparency, professionalism and accountability and to demonstrate that their behavior was unacceptable and did not represent the values and principles of the police.
“We deeply regret the negative impact such misconduct may have on the reputation of the Rivers State Command and the Nigerian Police in general.
“The Inspector-General of Police has consistently articulated a zero-tolerance stance against corruption and misconduct within the Force, and this incident does not reflect the aspirations of the Nigeria Police Force as a whole.
Ms Iringe-Koko urged the public to continue to have faith in the police, as they strive to maintain the trust of the citizens they are sworn to serve.