The Anambra State Police Command says it has begun a search for some yet-to-be-identified police officers at the Area Command, Onitsha, who allegedly extorted a young businessman of the sum of N810,000 in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the state.
The information on the alleged extortion was posted on the X.com handle of the Nigeria Police Force, @policeNG, by a social media user.
According to the post, the police officers forcefully took the money from the young man after they levelled an undisclosed offence against him.
The social media user wrote, “N810,000 criminal extortion by alleged police officers from Area Command, Onitsha, Anambra State: Dear @policeNG, kindly look into this case and help us fish out these officers that have continued to destroy the image of the police force.
“We don’t want to keep seeing or hearing some of these horrifying stories and I can imagine the fear they subjected this young man before forcefully taking his money.
“The young man has stated he will identify the officers and we are on standby to hear that justice has been served. These actions are the reason there is a disconnect between the police and the people.”
Reacting to the post, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command was aware of the post and had initiated steps to identify the alleged officer.
Ikenga said the information about the incident had been escalated to the Area Commander Onitsha for necessary actions.
He said, “The Anambra State Police Command is aware of the information on the X.com social media platform of the alleged extortion of the sum of Eight hundred and Ten thousand Naira only by a yet-to-be-identified officer of the Command and has initiated steps to identify the alleged officer.
Information about the incident has been escalated to the Area Commander Onitsha for necessary actions.
“Meanwhile, the command also wishes to invite the victim to come to the Police Command Headquarters, Awka at the Police Public Relations Office to help us with more information that will help in facilitating the necessary procedures involved in the process.
“Further details shall be communicated, please.”