The Kogi State Police Command, have arrested some Police officers caught on tape extorting money and physically assaulting some travellers along the Aogo-Okene road in Kogi State. The Command which condemned the act and kicked against Police extortion of any kind stated that an investigation into the case has commenced.
The Kogi State Police command in a statement released on Sunday 17th October 2021, by the Command’s Public Relations Officers, DSP William Ovye Aya, stated that they have commenced investigation into “a trending video where Police personnel attached to Adogo Division, while on patrol duty along Adogo-Okene road, reportedly extorted the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Naira (N25,000) from a traveller while another was physically assaulted by one of the men in uniform,” the command stated.
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban, psc (+), fdc, while condemning the incident, noted that the Police officers have been identified and detained at the State Criminal Investigations Department.
The officers who were caught in the Police extortion viral video are: ASP Isah Barnabas, Inspector Ifediegwu Godwin, Sgt Emmanuel Ochima and CPL Umameh Mathias.
The Kogi State Command in their statement, further stated that the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP,) has been issued an official query while the three (3) other junior officers are currently undergoing orderly room trial (Police internal disciplinary actions).
The CP further noted that the Command is doing its best to establish contact with the victims of Police extortion and brutality. He enjoined the victims to reach out to the Command a thorough 08107899269.
He assured that any of the officers found wanting in the investigations would be dealt with accordingly.
The IGP’s Reaction To The Social Media Trending Video On The Police Extortion In Kogi State?
The statement and News Release by the Kogi State Police Command on the Police Extortion case, is coming just a day after the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc through a statement released by Police Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba condemned the act.
The IGP from the statement released by Frank Mba on Saturday 16th October 2021, stated that the IGP has “ordered the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command to immediately carry out discrete investigations into the incident depicted in the attached trending video from a location believed to be in Kogi State.
The IGP calls for calm, noting that at the end of the investigations, justice will be done to the victim of the incident and police personnel found guilty, brought to book,” the statement added.