The Edo State Police Command, has arrested seven policemen for acts of extortion against members of the public.
The Deputy Police Public Relation Officer of the state command, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, said said in a statement on Friday that the seven policemen would be made to face disciplinary actions.
She said that the Commissioner of Police in charge of the 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 his Deputy.
The statement quoted the CP, as having called on the people of the state who have been victims of police extortion and forcible checking of telephones to contact the committee.
According to her those arrested are PC Victor Osabuohign, ASP Godspower Ijebu, Inspector Ebatamole Philip, Inspector Ademola Benjamin, Inspector Inaite Vincent, Inspr Robert Esikise and Inspector Adefaye Samuel.
The statement reads, “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 added.