The Edo State Police Command says it has arrested seven of its personnel for extorting members of the public while on duty.
A statement by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Jennifer Iwegbu, on Friday said the arrested officers, who contravened the law while carrying out their duties, faced disciplinary action
She gave the names of the officers as Victor Osabuohign, Godspower Ijebu, Ebatamole Philip, Ademola Benjamin, Inaite Vincent, Robert Esikise, and Adefaye Samuel.
The statement read, “The attention of the Edo State Police Command has been drawn to a video on Twitter where a policeman, Victor Osabuohign, was seen engaging in an extortion conversation with a road user identified as Arc Bolu.
“Osabuohign, the officer in the viral video, has been arrested, detained, and is currently undergoing investigation. The other officers that have also been arrested before now on the grounds of official corruption are undergoing investigations while awaiting disciplinary actions.
“The command wishes to state that the Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has set up an Ad hoc committee headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, James Chu and the Command’s Provost Marshall, Avanrenren Godwin, as the Deputy Chairman of the committee, to look at all cases of official corruption of men of the command, investigate and met out relevant disciplinary actions on such erring officers.
“The CP calls on the good people of the state that have been victims of corruption, extortion and checking of phones or have any other form of grievances against corruption from officers and men of the command to contact members of the panel.
“He further urged the public to go about their daily activities as law-abiding citizens and not hesitate to report any misconduct of any personnel of the command whether on duty or off-duty.”