Five police officers sacked over harassment, abduction

No fewer than five officers of the Edo State Police Command have been relieved of their duties following complaints by members of the public over allegations of harassment, abduction, and extortion.

This was disclosed in a press statement by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, who said the syndicate comprised 10 members, including dismissed police officers, POS operators, and bus drivers.

She gave the names of the suspects as Goodluck Jaja (male, POS operator), ASP Bonny Onajite, Inspector Ehubarieme Wisdom (male), Inspector Arebame God’s Power (male), Corporal Mordi Philip (male), Destiny Emmanuel (male, dismissed police corporal), Corporal Okon Elvis (male), Samuel Nicholas (male, minibus driver), and Etim Bright (male, minibus driver).

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The statement read, “The Edo State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, wishes to inform the general public of a major breakthrough in the fight against criminal elements disguising as law enforcement officers to perpetrate heinous crimes within Benin City and its environs.

“The command has, in recent times, received several complaints from members of the public alleging harassment, abduction, and extortion by individuals posing as police officers.

“These suspects reportedly operate along the Teboga axis off Aduwawa, where they unlawfully stop unsuspecting citizens, forcefully convey them around various parts of Benin City, and eventually take them to Point of Sale operators to fraudulently extort money from them under duress.”

Disturbed by the gravity of the allegations, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, ordered a discreet, intelligence-driven investigation into the matter.

She stated that through sustained surveillance, technical intelligence, and coordinated operations by operatives of the command, the criminal network was successfully busted.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects, including some serving and dismissed police personnel, formed a well-organised criminal syndicate responsible for a series of crimes, including abduction and extortion of innocent citizens.

She noted that they exploited police equipment to deceive victims and carried out their operations with impunity, thereby bringing the Nigeria Police Force into disrepute.

She added, “Those who are serving personnel have been dismissed. Upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation, they will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction to face the full weight of the law.

“The Command hereby calls on all victims who may have encountered or fallen prey to this organised criminal gang to come forward and assist the police with useful information that will aid further investigation and prosecution.

“Furthermore, the Edo State Police Command uses this medium to strongly warn all POS operators and merchants to be wary of any individual, including persons in police uniform, who attempt to use their facilities for unlawful transactions or extortion. Any POS operator found to be complicit in such illegal activities will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.”

In line with the mandate of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the PPRO said the command reassures residents of Edo State of its unwavering commitment to sanitising the system, restoring public confidence, and ensuring that no individual, regardless of status, is above the law.