A Ghana-based Nigerian businessman, Liberty Isaac, has urged the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, to prosecute some policemen who allegedly brutalised and extorted N3 million from him at gunpoint in Bayelsa State.
Isaac, who said he had returned to the country to attend a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony in August 2024, disclosed that he was accosted by some police officers on the Udi axis of the state, who forced him to unlock his phones.
He noted that, upon seeing a N10 million bank credit alert, the police operatives brutalised him and forced him to transfer N3 million to them in two tranches, using account details provided by them.
Isaac, who spoke to journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Saturday, revealed that his N3 million had been refunded to him by the leadership of the Zone 16 zonal command in Bayelsa State
He stated that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone released the money on bond to him on Friday when he visited the command with his lawyer.
Despite the refund, he expressed that the rogue policemen should be prosecuted, saying such action would prompt other erring officers to repent and restore the confidence of Nigerians in the Nigeria Police Force.
He said, “It is true that my N3 million has been refunded to me. By the special grace of God, on Friday, September 13, I and my team, ably led by my lawyer, visited the AIG Zone 16 in Bayelsa State where the money was released to me on bond, and I am still seeking proper justice. These policemen should be made to face the law for their actions. This is armed robbery and also a kidnapping case.
This gesture has shown that the Nigeria Police Force is still a friend, even though we know there are bad eggs among them, there are also good ones. The IGP is determined to root out the corrupt ones. I am thankful to the AIG Zone 16 in Bayelsa and the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa for their swift action in recovering my money. From what I have gathered, the IGP will, in due course, deliver justice to me.
“There is no doubt that ordinarily, this unfortunate incident would have made anyone lose interest and confidence in the country, but because I understand that there must be some betrayal in every group, I have chosen to believe that the Nigeria Police Force has both bad and good members. From what I have seen, the leadership of the force is committed to identifying and addressing the bad ones.”
He urged the public to speak out whenever confronted with such harassment, saying, “This unfortunate experience will not deter me from returning to Nigeria again. It has only strengthened my belief that Nigeria will improve one day if citizens speak out at every opportunity. Do not accept every crime that occurs as normal. Speak out, and the authorities will address it.
“I am standing here as a witness to this unfortunate experience and its outcome, despite my continued expectation that the IGP will deal with the perpetrators accordingly. The only delay was in handing over the money to me due to the circumstances, but after this incident, I believe that things can be properly managed in this country if we speak out as Nigerians.”
On Thursday, September 5, 2024, the Nigerian Police arrested the policemen involved in the extortion.
A tweet by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on X.com, read, “The policemen involved in this case of extortion of N3 million have been arrested. The men are attached to Zone 16 Command in Yenagoa. The command has been instructed to produce the men at the FHQ.
“The FHQ will continue to sanitise the system and ensure justice is done in all cases brought to its notice.”
(PUNCH)