Three police officers attached to the S-Squad of the Abia State Police Command have been arrested over alleged extortion, abuse of power and other misconduct that reportedly affected more than 200 people.
Zone 9 Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, Polycarp Emeka, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
He said seven officers were under investigation in connection with the alleged activities, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the others involved.
The arrested officers are an Inspector, a Sergeant and a Corporal.
How they allegedly operated
According to the AIG, the officers allegedly operated in about nine Local Government Areas of the state, including Aba, Obingwa, Ukwa East and Ukwa West.
He said the alleged activities lasted more than a year and came to the police’s attention after the President-General of one of the affected communities lodged a complaint.
Emeka said preliminary investigations showed the officers targeted patent medicine dealers and proprietors of maternity homes. They allegedly carried out purported sting operations during which pharmaceutical products, money and other valuables were seized.
The AIG added that the officers allegedly lodged in hotels for weeks while conducting the operations, and that their conduct did not conform with approved police procedures.
Investigators, he said, recovered pharmaceutical products allegedly seized from members of the public, as well as a bus and security-crest jackets linked to the suspects.
Victims speak, suspect denies
Some alleged victims accused the officers of using their positions to intimidate and extort them. However, one of the suspects denied the allegations and maintained his innocence.
Emeka warned that the Nigeria Police Force would not tolerate any conduct that undermines public confidence in the force or brings the police uniform into disrepute.
He assured that the investigation would be thorough and that any officer found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary and legal processes.
The AIG said the police authorities remained committed to protecting the integrity of the force and holding officers who abuse their powers accountable.
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