By James Adamu
The Federal Capital Territory 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, Dr Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an illegal stop-and-search operation in Abuja.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in Abuja, describing the officers as “thieves” who had no business wearing the police uniform.
According to the commissioner, the officers abandoned their designated duty posts, converged around the Banex area of Wuse, and mounted an unauthorised checkpoint where they extorted motorists. Unaware of the ICPC chairman’s identity, the officers allegedly forced him to withdraw N53,000 through a Point of Sale operator, made him pay the transaction charges, and later shared the money among themselves.
“I must say here too that we have about four policemen in custody as we speak who successfully extorted somebody of high importance, unknown to them that this person is a highly placed person in society. In clear terms, they extorted the Chairman of the ICPC,” Sanusi said.
“They extorted him of N53,000. They took him to a POS, he withdrew the money, paid the charges and they shared the money among themselves,” he added.
Gang Leader Arrested After Manhunt
The police commissioner said investigations showed the officers had formed a criminal gang after leaving their various duty posts.
“They are a gang of criminals who left various divisions, clustered together, moved to Wuse Banex and created a checkpoint where they perpetrated this act before fleeing,” he said.
Sanusi disclosed that the command declared the officers wanted before arresting their gang leader, whose confession led to the arrest of the other members.
“We got all of them. We are going to make sure they are severely punished. Those that are going to be dismissed will definitely be dismissed,” he added.
Public Urged to Report Police Misconduct
The commissioner reiterated the Inspector-General of Police’s directive prohibiting indiscriminate searches of citizens’ mobile phones by officers on patrol.
“You cannot stop anybody on the road and ask the person to bring out his phone for a search. If any policeman stops you and asks to search your phone, don’t agree. Call the police emergency lines, and we will ask them why,” Sanusi said.
He urged members of the public to promptly report cases of extortion and other misconduct by police personnel, assuring that officers found culpable would be sanctioned.
“We will still enforce the IG’s directive. Some of them are on the task because they are criminally minded. They want to perpetrate such acts. If we get them, they will face disciplinary actions and will be made to face the consequences,” Sanusi said.
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