Police arrest three officers for allegedly extorting money from Abia travellers

Three police officers have been detained by the Rivers State Police Command for kidnapping and extorting more than N4 million from tourists in Abia State.

According to PUNCH Metro, the police were posing as representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, carried out the crime on Monday, January 15.

The officers ambushed and abducted Uwaka Ifeanyi and Kalu Nnana, the two male victims, as they were travelling along the Aba-Owerri Road.

In addition to kidnapping their victims, the policemen also extorted them, according to a police source who wished to remain anonymous because of the delicate nature of the situation and shared it with our correspondent on Sunday.

The source said, “The two travellers had driven into a filling station along the area when the culprits who came with their van approached them and identified themselves as the EFCC officials. They also brought out their identification cards bearing the EFCC logo. After that, they arrested the two victims, took them into their van and threatened to take them to their Lagos zonal office in connection with an ongoing investigation.  When they got to Delta State en route to Lagos, the policemen started negotiating with them.  The victims were later made to pay a sum of N4.2m through a transfer into a certain account.

“Immediately after the officers confirmed the payment, they released and abandoned their victims around the Government Residential Area in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.”

The insider further stated that as soon as the two victims reported the crime, the police launched an instant investigation.

 According to information obtained by PUNCH Metro, ASP Talent Mungo and ASP Doubara Edonyabo of the Nigeria Police Force's Intelligence and Surveillance Unit were detained as a result of this.

It was also learned by our correspondent that Inspector Odey Michael of the command was taken into custody. It was learned that the suspects were being held until the matter was investigated further.

The insider further stated that as soon as the two victims reported the crime, the police launched an instant investigation.

According to information obtained by PUNCH Metro, ASP Talent Mungo and ASP Doubara Edonyabo of the Nigeria Police Force's Intelligence and Surveillance Unit were detained as a result of this.

It was also learned by our correspondent that Inspector Odey Michael of the command was taken into custody. It was learned that the suspects were being held until the matter was investigated further.

Source