ZONE 16 POLICE COMMAND TAKES ACTION AGAINST OFFICERS IN N10M EXTORTION SCANDAL
On Wednesday, the Zone 16 Police Command announced that it had arrested policemen engaged in the N10 million extortion.
The aforementioned officers have been detained since October 30, according to a statement made by SP Emonena Gunn, the Zone 16 Police Public Relations Officer in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.
However, it refuted false statements made on social media by human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, who claimed credit for the money’s recovery.
He said that departmental disciplinary action has already been taken against the officers implicated in the misbehavior.
Adebola Hamzat, the zone’s current AIG in charge, requested a probe into the case when he took office on October 21, Gunn noted.
The statement read: “Contrary to his claim, all management teams of the zone are new, including the AIG, who assumed (office) on 21/10/2024. The said incident occurred on the 17/09/2024 at about 1040hrs,
“The new AIG on assumption of duty swiftly took up the pending matter and directed the Zonal X-Squad to investigate and the said sum of N10m was recovered and handed over yesterday November 5, while the police officers responsible for the misconduct have been in detention since October 30 and facing a departmental disciplinary action.
“AIG Adebola Hamzat has track records of proven and tested integrity and zero tolerance for corruption and indiscipline.
“The said Harrison and the boys were invited on October 30 but didn’t respond until Tuesday, November 5.”
He claimed that when they arrived at the zone, the AIG, who was holding a management meeting, interrupted it to attend to them. Harrison, however, went into the AIG’s office without saying hello, became combative, rude, and began yelling at the AIG, claiming he had a flight to catch.
“The AIG mildly told him to go and catch up with his flight while others wait for the money to be handed over to them. He Harrison however, returned to witness the handing over of the recovered money.
“The said victims even wrote a letter appreciating the AIG for the swift response.
“It is also worthy of note that the said Harrison came by road and returned by road by a chattered red 2014 Toyota Camry taxi to Warri.
“The zone under the leadership of AIG Adebola Ayinde Hamzat will not tolerate extortion, corruption, indiscipline and human rights abuses in consonance with the IG, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun’s policy thrust of zero tolerance for extortion, corruption and human rights abuses.”