ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Two senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Doubara Edonyabo and Talent Mungo, have been suspended for allegedly extorting $3, 000 from two Nigerians in Rivers State, South-south Nigeria.
The Police Service Commission also stopped the salaries of the officers, who are both assistant superintendents of police.
This was disclosed by Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson in Rivers State, in a statement posted on Facebook on Sunday.
Their suspension, which took effect on February 29, came less than a month after the third officer involved in the alleged offence, Michael Odey, an inspector, was dismissed from the service.
In January, Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, drew the attention of the police authorities to the alleged extortion through his X handle.
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According to Gwamnishu, the three officers left Port Harcourt for Abia State where they āabductedā the victims and took them to Delta and Bayelsa States before ādumpingā them in Port Harcourt after allegedly extorting $3, 000 from them.
In their investigation, the police authorities in Rivers State found the officers guilty. They also recovered the money and refunded the victims before recommending the officers for dismissal.
Being a junior officer (inspector), Mr Odeyās case was reviewed by the assistant inspector general of police in charge of Zone 16, Bayelsa State, who upheld the recommendation of the police in Rivers and subsequently dismissed him with effect from February 7.
But Messrs Edonyabo and Mungo, being senior officers, had their case referred to the Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police for a review.
Mrs Iringe-Koko said their suspension and stoppage of salaries is the outcome of the review by the Police Service Commission.
āThe two officers will face the Force Disciplinary Committee, which is responsible for addressing disciplinary issues involving senior officers. Update would soon be given on other cases involving these officers.
āThis decisive course of action serves as a strong deterrent to any police officer who may contemplate engaging in misconduct and unequivocally reaffirms our unwavering commitment to upholding the fundamental principles of credible policing in Rivers State,ā she said.