Command detains officers involved in N10m extortion

The Zone 16 Police Command on Wednesday disclosed that it detained officers who were involved in the extortion of N10 million.

A statement by the Zone 16 Police Public Relations Officer, SP Emonena Gunn, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, hinted that the said officers had been in detention since October 30.

It however debunked alleged claims on social media by one Harrison Gwamnishu, a human rights activist, crediting the recovery of the said money to himself.

According to him, the officers involved in the misconduct are already facing departmental disciplinary action.
Gunn pointed out that the current AIG in charge of the zone, Adebola Hamzat, ordered an investigation into the case when he assumed office on October 21.

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 said on arrival at the zone, the AIG who was having a management meeting cut short the meeting to attend to them, but Harrison who entered the office of the AIG without greeting him, was quarrelsome, abusive, insulting and started shouting at the AIG that he had a flight to catch up with.

“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.”