By Adesakin Adefemi
The Edo State Police Command has dismissed five officers and arrested ten suspects, including serving and former policemen, over alleged harassment, abduction, and extortion of residents in Benin City and its environs.
Spokesman for the Command, Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. She said the syndicate comprised ten members, including discharged police officers, POS operators, and commercial bus drivers.
The suspects were identified as Goodluck Jaja, a POS operator; ASP Bonny Onajite; Inspector Ehubarieme Wisdom; Inspector Arebame God’s Power; Corporal Mordi Philip; Destiny Emmanuel, a dismissed police corporal; Corporal Okon Elvis; Samuel Nicholas, a mini bus driver; and Etim Bright, also a mini bus driver.
According to the statement, the command had received multiple complaints from the public alleging harassment, abduction, and extortion by individuals posing as police officers. The suspects reportedly operated along the Teboga axis off Aduwawa.
Ikoedem said the group unlawfully stopped unsuspecting citizens, forced them into vehicles, conveyed them around various roads within Benin City, and eventually took them to Point of Sale operators to fraudulently extort money under duress.
Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika ordered a discreet and intelligence-driven investigation following the complaints. Through sustained surveillance, technical intelligence, and coordinated operations, operatives of the command busted the network.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects, including some serving and dismissed personnel, formed a well-organised criminal syndicate responsible for a series of crimes including abduction and extortion. The group exploited police equipment to deceive victims and carried out operations with impunity.
Ikoedem confirmed that the serving personnel among the suspects have been dismissed. She added that upon conclusion of investigations, they will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction to face the full weight of the law.
The command called on victims who may have encountered the syndicate to come forward with information to aid further investigation and prosecution. It also warned POS operators and merchants to be wary of individuals, including persons in police uniform, who attempt to use their facilities for unlawful transactions or extortion.
The statement added that any POS operator found complicit in such illegal activities will be arrested and prosecuted. The command restated its commitment to sanitising the system, restoring public confidence, and ensuring that no individual is above the law, in line with the mandate of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
