Seven operatives of the Edo State Police Command have been arrested for extorting members of the public while on duty, says the command deputy Spokesperson, ASP. Jennifer Iwegbu.
Iwegbu in a statement in Benin City, said the arrested officers, who contravened the law while carrying their duties face disciplinary action.
She gave the name of the officers as PC Victor Osabuohign, ASP Godspower Ijebu, Inspector Ebatamole Philip, Inspector Ademola Benjamin, Inspector Inaite Vincent, Inspr Robert Esikise and Inspector Adefaye Samuel.
The statement read: “The attention of the Edo State Police Command has been drawn to a video on twitter where a Police personnel, PC Victor Osabuohign was seen engaging in an extortion conversation with a road user identified as Arc Bolu.
“PC Victor Osabuohign the officer in the viral video has been arrested, detained, and is currently undergoing investigation. The other operatives that have also been arrested before now on the grounds of official corruption and are undergoing investigations while awaiting disciplinary actions.
“The Command wishes to state that the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro, has set up an Ad-Hoc committee headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Operations, ACP James Chu and the Command’s Provost Marshall CSP Avanrenren Godwin as the Deputy Chairman of the committee to look at all cases of official corruption of officers and 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 to 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 do not hesitate to report any misconduct of any personnel of the command whether on duty or off duty,” the statement.”