Police Confirm Arrest of Officers in Bayelsa Extortion Case
The police have confirmed the arrest of officers accused of extorting N3 million from a Nigerian man in Bayelsa State, located in South-south Nigeria.
Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi announced the development on his X account on Thursday.
PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that some police officers allegedly extorted money from Kelechi Isaac on August 26 at Odi Axis, Bayelsa State.
Isaac, who lives in Ghana but hails from Nguru Nworie in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east, recounted that five officers stopped his vehicle while he was returning from a marriage ceremony with two friends.
He said the officers forced him at gunpoint to transfer N3 million to two separate bank accounts.
Officers Arrested
On Monday, the police announced that the officers involved in the extortion had been identified.
The operatives belong to Zone 16 Police Headquarters, which oversees Bayelsa and Rivers States in South-south Nigeria. Previously, it was unclear whether the officers had been arrested.
However, spokesperson Adejobi confirmed on Thursday that the officers have indeed been arrested.
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“The policemen involved in this extortion case have been arrested,” Adejobi said.
He added that Zone 16 Police Headquarters has been instructed to present the officers at the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.
“The Force Headquarters will continue to cleanse the system and ensure justice is served in all reported cases,” Adejobi wrote on X.
‘Money Recovered, But Not Returned’ — Victim
In a Thursday morning conversation with PREMIUM TIMES, Isaac revealed that while the N3 million has been recovered from the officers, it has not yet been returned to him.
Isaac said he was informed by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 16, Paul Omata, that the money is currently in Bayelsa.
“They haven’t returned the money. I was in Bayelsa yesterday (Wednesday). The AIG said the money is there but won’t be returned to me until the IGP gives an order,” Isaac explained.
He added that the officers are being transferred to Abuja, but have not yet arrived for the IGP to issue any directives regarding the money’s return.
The spokesperson for Zone 16 Police Headquarters, Gunn Ewhoborwo, did not respond to calls or text messages seeking comment.
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