The Anambra State Police Command has reacted to the allegation of extortion by some of its operatives at Onitsha central police station.
A human rights activist and coordinator of Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation, Harrison Gwamnishu had narrated an incident of arrest, involving operatives of the Anambra State Police command.
Gwamnishu said a man named Chidiebere was on 4th July arrested after he left ShopRite Mall, where he had gone to make purchases.
The policemen involved, including one Harrison Emerenini, saw him with an iPhone and arrested him.
According to the activist, the man was later extorted to the tune of N600,500 after he was threatened with being labeled an IPOB member.
He added that after intervention by his group, the man paid the extorted money in full.
Meanwhile, the State Police Commissioner, CP Echeng Echeng has vowed to uncover and punish operatives involved in the alleged ignominious act.
A statement by the state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, recently said that the CP has ordered an investigation into the matter.
The statement reads: “The attention of Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to a trending report from social media on extorted but recovered money from a policeman in the Command.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng has directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of X-Squad to investigate and unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The CP who frowned at such an act reiterated that the command under his watch will not tolerate any form of unprofessional conduct by police personnel. He also urged citizens to report any Police alterations/Conducts to X Squad and Public Complaints Bureau PCB of the Command,” the statement added.
