Police confirm arrest of officers who extorted N3 million from wedding guest at gunpoint

The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters have confirmed the arrest of the operatives who allegedly extorted N3 million from a Ghanian-based Nigerian, Kelechi Isaac at gunpoint at Odi Axis of Balyesa state while returning from a marriage ceremony

Penpushing reports that the Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest in a post on his X handle on Thursday, adding that authorities of Zone 16 Police Headquarters have been asked to produce the operatives at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja

‘The policemen involved in this case of extortion of N3 million have been arrested. The Force Headquarters will continue to sanitise the system and ensure justice is done in all cases brought to its notice,” he wrote on the microblogging platform.

Penpushing further reports that the victim, however, said the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in-charge of Zone 16 Headquarters, Paul Omata, informed him of the development, stressing that the recovered was yet to be return to him

“They haven’t returned the money. I was in Bayelsa yesterday (Wednesday). They (AIG) said the money is there (in Bayelsa). But they will not return the money to me because there is no order from IGP to release the money to me,” he said.

‘They said the policemen are being moved to Abuja, but they have not gotten to Abuja for the IGP to see them and give orders. So they said they are waiting for directives from the IGP (to return the money to me).”

Penpushing also reports that it is recalled that the victim while narrating his ordeal explained that he returned to Nigeria to attend a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony in Bayelsa State when the incident happened, adding that five police operatives flagged down their vehicle and identified themselves as the “IGP’s Special Squad.

The victim added that their white pickup truck was not branded, and that the operatives’ uniform did not have name tags, stressing that the operatives searched their vehicle and subsequently forced him to unlock his phone.

Penpushing reports that he explained that the armed operatives, on seeing a N10 million bank alert in his phone, allegedly began to beat him and threatened to shoot him unless he transferred N6 million to them and was handcuffed

“They handcuffed me and drove us away and continued beating me. Before we knew it, they started shooting guns and threatened to kill the three of us. I asked them to take me to a police station but they refused’, he stated.

“They said that if I didn’t give them N6 million from the N10 million, they would kill all of us. When the beating became too much, I started negotiating with them, and at the end of the day, I transferred N3 million to them in two bank accounts they provided and drove with us and stopped us at Ahoada in Rivers State and drove off’, he narrated

Penpushing further reports that Isaac said the operatives gave him two different bank accounts where he transferred N2 million and N1 million separately, adding that N2 million was transferred to the Monie Point Microfinance Bank account number belonging to Yusuf Mustafa, while the N1 million was transferred to another Monie Point Microfinance Bank account number belonging to Jerry Ventures.

The victim, however appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to intervene and fish out the operatives, who he said dent the image of the police and compel them to return the money, having provided account details.

“All I need is my money to be returned to me and for the IGP to fish out the policemen giving the Nigeria Police Force a bad image. I believe with these account details; they can be fished out. I want Justice. I want my money returned because it is for my brother’s project. Let the policemen who did this to me be identified so that other Nigerians won’t become their victims. I don’t do any illicit business. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country’, he said

Penpushing also reports that the victim said his lawyer wrote to the Bayelsa State Police Command to notify them of the incident, but when contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Command Musa Mohammed, said he was unaware of the incident.

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