Officers accused of extorting Anambra businessman of N810,000 to face probe

The Anambra State Police Command has launched an investigation and is actively searching for unidentified police officers stationed at the Area Command in Onitsha, who have been accused of extorting N810,000 from a young businessman in Onitsha.

The allegation of extortion was brought to light when a social media user shared the information on the Nigeria Police Force’s official Twitter handle, @policeNG, which is hosted on the X.com platform.

The social media post alleges that the police officers coercively took N810,000 from the young businessman after falsely accusing him of an unspecified offense.

The social media user wrote, “N810,000 criminal extortion by alleged police officers from Area Command, Onitsha, Anambra State: Dear @policeNG, kindly look into this case and help us fish out these officers that have continued to destroy the image of the police force.

“We don’t want to keep seeing or hearing some of these horrifying stories and I can imagine the fear they subjected this young man before forcefully taking his money.

“The young man has stated he will identify the officers and we are on standby to hear that justice has been served. These actions are the reason there is a disconnect between the police and the people.”

While reacting to the post, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, stated that the command was aware of the post and had swiftly initiated steps to identify the alleged officer.

Ikenga noted that the information about the incident had been escalated to the Area Commander Onitsha for necessary actions.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command is aware of the information on the X.com social media platform of the alleged extortion of the sum of Eight hundred and Ten thousand Naira only by a yet-to-be-identified officer of the Command and has initiated steps to identify the alleged officer.

“Information about the incident has been escalated to the Area Commander Onitsha for necessary actions.

“Meanwhile, the command also wishes to invite the victim to come to the Police Command Headquarters, Awka at the Police Public Relations Office to help us with more information that will help in facilitating the necessary procedures involved in the process.

“Further details shall be communicated, please.”