EDO POLICE DISMISS FIVE OFFICERS OVER HARASSMENT, ABDUCTION, EXTORTION ALLEGATIONS

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed five operatives of the Edo State Command over allegations of harassment, abduction, and extortion levelled against them by members of the public.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer in Edo State, Eno Ikoedem.

According to the statement, the dismissed officers were part of a 10-member syndicate that included serving and dismissed police personnel, Point of Sale (POS) operators, and commercial drivers allegedly involved in criminal activities within Benin City and its environs.

The suspects were identified as Goodluck Jaja (POS operator), ASP Bonny Onajite, Inspector Ehubarieme Wisdom, Inspector Arebame God’s Power, Corporal Mordi Philip, Destiny Emmanuel (dismissed corporal), Corporal Okon Elvis, Samuel Nicholas (mini bus driver), and Etim Bright (mini bus driver).

The Command said it had received multiple complaints from residents accusing the group of posing as law enforcement officers to harass, abduct, and extort unsuspecting victims.

“They reportedly operated along the Teboga axis off Aduwawa, where they unlawfully stopped citizens, forcefully conveyed them across various parts of Benin City, and took them to POS operators to fraudulently extort money under duress,” the statement said.

Disturbed by the allegations, the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, ordered a discreet, intelligence-driven investigation, which led to the dismantling of the syndicate through coordinated operations and surveillance.

Preliminary findings revealed that the group exploited police equipment to deceive victims and carried out their activities with impunity, thereby tarnishing the image of the force.

The Command confirmed that the serving officers involved have been dismissed and will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.

It also called on victims of the syndicate to come forward with useful information to aid prosecution, while warning POS operators and merchants against facilitating illegal transactions.

The police reiterated their commitment to restoring public confidence and ensuring accountability, stressing that no individual is above the law.