By Uzor Odigbo
The Kogi State Police Command said it has commenced investigation of seven police officers who extorted money from passengers while on patrol duty, following the order of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.
This was disclosed by the spokesperson of the command, DSP William Ovye Aya, in a statement issued to newsmen on Sunday.
TheNiche learnt that the police officers were accused of extorting passengers and forcing a student to part with the sum of N25,000 in a viral video recorded by one of their victims.
DSP Aya said: “The Kogi State Police Command has commenced investigations into a trending video where police personnel attached to Adogo Division, while on patrol duty along Adogo-Okene road, reportedly extorted the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Naira (N25,000) from a traveller while another was physically assaulted by one of the men in uniform.
“The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban, while condemning the incident, noted that the police officers have been identified and detained at the State Criminal Investigations Department.
“The officers are: ASP Isah Barnabas, Inspector Ifediegwu Godwin, Sgt Emmanuel Ochima and CPL Umameh Mathias who physically assaulted one of the travellers. The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) has been issued an official query while the three (3) other junior officers are currently undergoing orderly room trial (Police internal disciplinary actions).
The CP further noted that the Command is doing its best to establish contact with the victims and enjoined them to reach out to the command.