The Nigerian Police Force took swift action on Friday, apprehending officers attached to the Special Tactical Squad in Abuja for allegedly extorting N30 million from a member of the public.
The case was brought to the attention of the police via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), leading to immediate investigations and arrests.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, significant progress was reported in the apprehension of the officers and their collaborators. The arrest followed a viral video posted by an X user, Harrison Gwamnishu, under the handle #HarrisonBbi18, who detailed how the officers stopped an individual, searched his phone, and coerced him into transferring money to private bank accounts.
According to Gwamnishu, “They stopped the young man on the road, took him to their car, started checking his phones, checked his account balance and that was how they wiped everything off to two accounts they gave to the boy, Access bank and Moniepoint accounts.”
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, emphasized the commitment of the police force to upholding integrity and accountability. He ordered the immediate commencement of disciplinary actions against the erring officers to ensure swift and decisive justice. Egbetokun reiterated that those who betray the public trust would face the full consequences of their actions, emphasizing that such misconduct undermines efforts to maintain law and order.
The statement affirmed the resolve of the Nigerian Police Force to uphold professionalism and ethical standards, promising that perpetrators of misconduct would be held accountable to restore public confidence in law enforcement.
