The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested four police officers accused of extorting ₦53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an illegal stop-and-search operation in Abuja.
FCT Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi disclosed the development on Monday while addressing journalists, describing the officers as “thieves” who had no place in the Nigeria Police Force.
According to Sanusi, the officers abandoned their official duty posts, converged around the Banex area of Wuse and set up an unauthorised checkpoint where they allegedly extorted motorists. Unaware of the identity of their victim, they reportedly forced the ICPC chairman to withdraw ₦53,000 from a Point of Sale (POS) operator, pay the transaction charges and hand over the money.
“They extorted the Chairman of the ICPC of ₦53,000. They took him to a POS, made him withdraw the money, paid the charges and then shared the money among themselves,” the police commissioner said.
He said investigations revealed that the officers had formed what he described as a criminal gang after leaving their assigned divisions to carry out illegal roadside extortion.
“They are a gang of criminals who left various divisions, came together, moved to Wuse Banex and mounted an illegal checkpoint where they committed the offence before fleeing,” Sanusi added.
The commissioner said the command declared the officers wanted before tracking down their gang leader, whose confession led investigators to the remaining members of the group.
“We arrested all of them, and they will face the full weight of the law. Those found deserving of dismissal will certainly be dismissed,” he said.
Sanusi also reiterated the Inspector-General of Police’s directive prohibiting officers on patrol from conducting indiscriminate searches of citizens’ mobile phones.
He urged residents to refuse unlawful requests to surrender their phones for inspection and to immediately report such incidents through the police emergency lines.
“No police officer has the right to stop you on the road and demand your phone for a search. If anyone does that, refuse and contact the police emergency lines. We will hold the officers accountable,” he said.
The commissioner encouraged members of the public to promptly report cases of extortion, harassment and other misconduct involving police personnel, assuring that offenders would be identified and disciplined.
“We remain committed to enforcing the Inspector-General’s directive. Some officers engage in these acts because they are criminally minded, but once they are caught, they will face disciplinary measures and the consequences of their actions,” Sanusi said.
