By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has detained four police officers for allegedly extorting N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an illegal stop-and-search operation in Abuja.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in Abuja, describing the officers as “criminals” whose actions had brought embarrassment to the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the commissioner, the officers abandoned their official duty posts and converged around the Banex area in Wuse, where they allegedly mounted an unauthorized checkpoint and extorted unsuspecting motorists, including the ICPC chairman, whose identity they were unaware of at the time.
Sanusi said the officers forced Aliyu to withdraw N53,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, pay the associated transaction charges and hand over the cash, which they subsequently shared among themselves.
“They extorted the Chairman of the ICPC without knowing who he was. They took him to a POS terminal where he withdrew N53,000, paid the charges, and they shared the money,” the commissioner said.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the officers had deserted their assigned duty posts before forming what he described as an extortion gang operating an illegal checkpoint.
“These officers left their various divisions, assembled at Banex in Wuse and illegally mounted a checkpoint where they carried out this criminal act before disappearing,” he stated.
The police commissioner said the command immediately launched a manhunt for the suspects, beginning with the arrest of the group’s leader, whose confession led investigators to the remaining members.
“We declared them wanted, tracked them down and arrested all of them. We will ensure they face severe disciplinary measures. Those found culpable and deserving of dismissal will certainly be dismissed,” Sanusi said.
Reaffirming the directive of the Inspector-General of Police prohibiting indiscriminate searches of citizens’ mobile phones, Sanusi warned officers against violating the rights of members of the public.
“No police officer has the authority to stop anyone on the road and demand to search their phone. If anyone attempts that, refuse and immediately contact the police emergency lines. We will hold such officers accountable.”
He urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory to promptly report cases of extortion, harassment and other forms of police misconduct, assuring them that the command would continue to discipline erring personnel as part of efforts to restore public confidence in the police.
Sanusi said the action taken against the officers underscores the command’s commitment to ridding the force of corrupt personnel and entrenching professionalism, accountability and respect for the rights of citizens.