The Imo State Police Command has sacked seven police officers for alleged extortion and brutality on defenceless residents in the State.
The arrest of the police officers, according to Mohammed Barde, the Commissioner of Police, followed complaints from the public that some policemen had been using the Sienna van to pick up people, take them to secret locations, and demand money from them. Barde made this announcement during a Thursday interactive session with reporters in Owerri.
In a statement, said that the officers were also said to be in the habit of going about with Point of Sales (PoS) machines to extort money from members of the public.
The statement read in part, “Sequel to the inundation of the office of the Commissioner of Police with series of reports/complaints by members of the public on police brutality, harassments, extortion, illegal checking of phones and flagrant disobedience to the Inspector-General of Police directives on extortion and incivility to members of the public, the Imo State Police Command has dismissed and charged the following ex-policemen: F/No. 462315 Sgt. Ohakim Chibuzo; F/No. 505455 Sgt. Irome Finian; F/No. 505592 Sgt. George Osueke; F/No. 511966 Cpl. Kelechi Onuegbu; F/No. 512320 Cpl. Nwagoro Isdore; F/No. 528165 PC Nwadike Stephen; and F/No. 528156 PC Ihemtuge Plastidus, for the offence of discreditable conduct, corrupt practices and leaving beat.
“It will be recalled that the ex-policemen were arrested on November 8, 2022, around 1pm in a bank at Umuahia, Abia State, in the course of performing illegal duty outside their jurisdiction and conspiracy to extort money from an innocent victim. They were defaulted, tried and found guilty of the charges levelled against them, thus were summarily dismissed and charged to Magistrates’ Court, Owerri, with charge sheet number: No. OW/746C/2022.
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police has directed all Area Commanders, Heads of Departments, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Teams Commanders of the various units in the command to ensure their subordinates are warned against indulging in these sharp practices as any police officer found complicit will be made to face disciplinary actions.”