By Oluwakemi Kindness
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has detained four police officers accused of extorting the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN).
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in Abuja on the Command’s recent security operations.
“We have about four policemen in custody who successfully extorted somebody of high importance. In clear terms, they extorted the Chairman of the ICPC,” the commissioner said.
According to him, the officers collected ₦53,000 after taking the victim to a Point of Sale (POS) operator, where the money was withdrawn and shared among themselves.
“They abandoned their official duty posts, came together, mounted an illegal checkpoint and extorted the money. We declared them wanted and arrested all of them,” he said.
CP Sanusi vowed that the officers would face severe disciplinary action.
“I made it clear that you must choose to be either a policeman or a thief. You cannot be both. Those who deserve dismissal will definitely be dismissed,” he said.
Also the commissioner also reiterated that police officers are prohibited from searching citizens’ phones during routine stop-and-search operations.
“Nobody should search your phone simply because you have been stopped on the road. Don’t agree. Don’t open your phone. Call the police emergency lines if such happens,” he said.
He explained that phones may only be examined after a lawful arrest and as part of an investigation.
On the reported communal tension in Gwagwalada Area Council, CP Sanudi said the command has strengthened deployments and community engagement to prevent further violence.
“We have taken necessary measures, including constant engagement with the communities. I can assure you that you will not hear anything like that again,” he said.
