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Police operatives in Imo State have arrested six security operatives for allegedly searching citizens’ phones and forcing them to transfer large sums of money via Point of Sales (POS), into their accounts.
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Imo State Police Commissioner, Ahmed Muhammed Barde, while addressing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters, Owerri, said the arrested security personnel include an Inspector of Police, two officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and three operatives of the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
He said they were apprehended following a petition sent to his office that the team extorted the sum of N360,000 from a member of the public.
The CP said with the arrest of the men, the police would commence an investigation into the matter and subject those found guilty to orderly room trial.
Barde lamented that extortion by stop and search team, has persisted in the state despite warnings from the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, against such practices.
The police boss urged residents to promptly report such cases of extortion to the Police for necessary action, reiterating the commitment of the command to rid itself of bad eggs.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the parade, one of the petitioners, Obiji Chidera, said his brother’s phone was searched by the six-man team, who, on finding Bitcoins in his account traded it and transferred the sum of N360,000 to themselves through a POS operator.
Also, another victim who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the policemen withdrew from his account after searching his phone and discovered that he had N2 million in his account.
Other victims at the Command narrated how the surveillance team subjected them to intimidation, beatings and threats, if large sums of money is found in their accounts.
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