The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, has ordered the arrest and detention of a police inspector and two Imo State Civil Guard Corps (IMSCGC) group of workers over alleged extortion.
Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo State, mentioned in a remark on Friday that the police commissioner has additionally ordered an investigation into the incident.
Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, mentioned the incident came about on Thursday and that the officials claimed that the motorist used to be using with no motive force’s licence in Owerri.
IMSCGC is a state executive paramilitary outfit established in 2013 all over the management of then-Governor Rochas Okorocha.
The outfit used to be created as an offshoot of the Imo State Orientation Corps underneath the Imo State Orientation Company.
It enforces state executive rules, addresses unlawful buying and selling and hawking, and assists with street and site visitors protection.
The viral video
PREMIUM TIMES sighted a video clip of the incident circulating on Fb.
The clip confirmed two male IMSCGC officials and the feminine police inspector hard a ₦35,000 bribe from a motive force for allegedly using with no licence, threatening to take him to their place of work for the next respectable price.
The police mentioned the feminine inspector could also be a site visitors warden.
The motive force, who again and again argued that he left his licence at house, later negotiated the fee right down to ₦15,000 and transferred it to an account equipped by means of the safety operatives.
‘It’s unacceptable’
Mr Okoye mentioned within the remark that the state police have condemned the operatives’ behavior within the clip.
He mentioned the behavior used to be “unacceptable and opposite to the factors of self-discipline and integrity” anticipated of regulation enforcement group of workers.
The spokesperson mentioned the feminine inspector has been known as Chinewe Ejiogu, connected to the Shell Camp Divisional Police Headquarters. On the identical time, the 2 IMSCGC officials have been Kelechi Nzediagwu and Onyedikachi Chibuike.
“They’re lately detained on the State Felony Investigation Division,” he mentioned.
Investigation
Mr Okoye mentioned Mr Bosso has directed the Command’s Grievance Reaction Unit to research the incident.
“The affected motorist is prompt to report back to the unit and supply related knowledge to help the investigation,” he mentioned.
“Suitable disciplinary motion will practice upon its conclusion.”
The spokesperson mentioned the state police have reiterated that no site visitors violation justifies extortion, harassment, or abuse of place of work.
“All group of workers had been warned to discharge their tasks according to the regulation and deal with participants of the general public with recognize,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the state police command has prompt citizens of the state to document incidents of police misconduct thru the suitable channels, assuring them that allegations of misconduct can be handled critically.
Now not the primary time
Accusations of extortion in opposition to Nigerian safety operatives, particularly the police, aren’t new within the nation.
If truth be told, circumstances of police brutality, extortion, extrajudicial killings and different unprofessional actions in Nigeria have endured regardless of sanctions by means of police government, similar to dismissal from provider.
The most recent incident befell about six months after the police in Anambra State arrested and detained six senior officials who allegedly tortured and extorted ₦200,000 from a dealer in Onitsha, the industrial hub of the South-eastern state.
In February, 3 officials have been dismissed over alleged kidnapping, extortion of N1.7 million and automobile snatching in Imo, every other state within the South-east.
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Ultimate January, police operatives shot dead a personal motorcyclist in Ebonyi State.
In November 2024, police operatives from the Crack Squad in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, shot dead a labourer and seriously injured 3 others within the state.
A identical incident happened in the similar Abakaliki in 2018 when a police officer shot and killed a industrial motorcyclist for allegedly refusing to present him a N50 bribe.
In August 2024, police operatives in Bayelsa State extorted ₦3 million from a Nigerian guy at gunpoint.
The sufferer later petitioned police government, and the officials have been arrested.
The police operatives later returned the ₦3 million to the sufferer, about 3 weeks later.
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