ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- An Inspector of Police and five members of the State Security Joint Task Force code-named “Operation Search and Flush”, have been paraded for allegedly robbing members of the public at gunpoint on different occasions.
Parading them yesterday, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mohammed Ahmed Barde, said the suspects were; A Police Inspector, three personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and two personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corpse (NSCDC).
Names of the suspected officers are; “NA Kelechi Chijoke, ‘m’ 30 years, (NDLEA), NA David Nwaji ‘m’ (NDLEA), CAIII Nwaka Ikechukwu (NDLEA), DSC Obijiaku Isreal, 28 years, ‘m’ (NSCDC), ASC II Omodi Timothy ‘m’, (NSCDC), and Inspector Odidika Augustine ‘m’, 37 years, (Police).
According to him, the suspects were alleged to have “harassed, tortured and robbed Nnaemeka Pat Obiji ‘m’, a total of Three hundred and sixty thousand Naira (N360,000) on 07/09/2023, along Ohii/Egbeada, Orlu road in Imo, via a bank transfer to Opay POS agent with account details; 7039217324, Edith David Jatto.
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“The same team was equally alleged to have robbed Mr. Eluigwe Christian of Nine hundred and fifty nine thousand Naira (N959,000) on 8/09/2023 and Thirty thousand Naira (N30,000) from Princess Chisom Duru on the 12/09/2023, via same POS transfer.
The Police Commissioner further said, “The arrest of the operatives was sequel to diligent investigative effort by detectives of the CP Monitoring Unit and X-Squad department, who took the complainants to the spot where they were forced to make the transfer. There the victims identified the said operatives of JTF on stop and search duty who robbed them of their money.
“On searching the aforesaid officers, different denominations of rumpled Naira notes amounting to N8000 and 12 phones forcefully collected from the members of the public were found in their possession.
“An intense investigation is ongoing. Further development on the case will be made known to members of the public”.
He assured Imo residents of the Command’s determination to fish out the few bad eggs tarnishing the image of the Nigerian Police Force in Imo.
Barde warned POS Agents to be wary of unscrupulous officers who may want to take advantage of their services to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.
He reiterated the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that officers and men of the Command refrain from all forms of unprofessional practice and respect the rights of Citizens while discharging their lawful duty.
The Police Commissioner urged members of the Public to take advantage of the Command’s emergency lines; 08034773600 or 08098880197 and report any officer acting contrary to the professional ethics of the Force.