BENIN CITY-Fresh allegation of extortion-induced arrests has hit the Edo State Police Command with a call on the Commissioner of Police CP Lawan Jimeta to carefully examine the activities of his heads of tactical units and divisions in the state.
To check the alleged corruption, CP Lawan Jimeta who assumed duty in the state on Thursday, November 21, 2019 has been advised to randomly monitor activities of his personnel on duty, as well as strengthen X-squad wing which deals with Police officers misconduct in the command.
An appeal was also made to the COMPOL not to base his successes in crime control and prevention in the state on the number of arrests made but the convictions and loots recovered from suspects as well as crimes detected before execution.
Some residents and security experts in the state stayed this to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in Benin City.
“Some SARS operatives stormed our homes at Uwasota about 2 a.m last December alleging that our sons were cultists.
“They took them to police headquarters. When we got there in morning the IPO said they were investigating, in the afternoon he said he would charge them to court, by evening he said we should pay N200,000 each for bail.
“We forcedly negotiated our individual son’s bail, paid, they were released and that ended the allegation of cultism levelled against our children”. Mr Erhahon and Pst. Isaac Uba alleged.
Another resident also alleged that his son who visited him from the UK was ripped off N220,000 by a team of policemen on patrol along Boundary road while on his way to catch his Lagos-bound flight at Benin airport.
“The policemen followed my son to a nearby ATM spot where he withdrew the cash and gave them after they accused him of engaging in internet fraud popularly called “Yahoo-Yahoo”.
A security expert who claimed to have x-rayed the activities of operatives of Edo police command lately remarked that the newly deployed CP must first fight in-house corruption to achieve his goals in the state.
“I have lived and worked elsewhere….it’s only here police will arrest a suspect, keep in their cell and proudly tell the public that they are investigating.
“Investigation and arrest which comes first in crime prevention and bursting?. He quizzed rhetorically.
He further challenged the CP and police authorities to prove ignorance of collection of ‘Egunje’ (bribe) along different roads by sending special team to apprehend and parade those involved.
“It was in this Benin City that a one AIG Ekpoudum arrested, paraded and prosecuted some of his officers found collecting bribe from drivers.
“It can be replicated and sustained”. He further stated.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Edo Command DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said any Police officer who effects arrest without due process does so at his/her own risk.
He explained that no police officer is authorised to take money from any suspect in carrying out raids.
DSP Nwabuzor however noted that act of carry out raid is to rid the state of hoodlums and criminal elements.
“The operation on raiding is permitted by judges rule. The operatives will screen those arrested and pass such suspects to his/her superior. If found to be a victim of circumstance, such suspect is allowed to let go without paying any money.
Those found wanting will be properly investigated and prosecuted.
