Three Abia police officers arrested over alleged extortion and abuse of power

Three police officers serving with the S-Squad of the Abia State Police Command have been taken into custody over allegations of extortion, abuse of authority and other forms of misconduct said to have affected more than 200 people.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 9, Umuahia, Polycarp Emeka, made this known while addressing journalists in Umuahia.

According to the AIG, seven officers are currently under investigation in connection with the allegations, while the police are making efforts to locate other personnel suspected of involvement.

Those already arrested are an Inspector, a Sergeant and a Corporal.

Emeka said the suspected officers allegedly carried out their activities in about nine Local Government Areas across the state, including Aba, Obingwa, Ukwa East and Ukwa West.

He explained that the alleged misconduct reportedly went on for more than a year before police authorities were alerted through a complaint lodged by the President-General of one of the affected communities.

Preliminary findings, according to the AIG, indicated that the officers allegedly focused their operations on patent medicine sellers and owners of maternity homes. They were said to have conducted purported sting operations during which drugs, cash and other valuables were allegedly taken from their targets.

Emeka further alleged that some of the officers stayed in hotels for weeks while carrying out the operations, despite the activities allegedly falling outside established police procedures.

The investigation has so far identified more than 200 individuals who were reportedly affected.

The police also recovered pharmaceutical products allegedly taken during the operations, alongside a bus and security-crest jackets said to be connected to the suspects.

Some people who claimed to have been victims accused the officers of using their positions to threaten, intimidate and extort them.

One of the suspects, however, rejected the allegations and insisted that he was not guilty of the accusations.

Emeka said the police would conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter, assuring that any officer found to have violated the law or police regulations would face the appropriate disciplinary and legal action.

He reiterated the commitment of the police authorities to maintaining professionalism within the force and holding officers accountable for any abuse of their powers.