A Nigerian man based in Ghana has accused police operatives in Bayelsa State of extorting N3 million from him at gunpoint. The alleged incident occurred on Monday at the Odi Axis in Bayelsa.
The victim, Kelechi Isaac, who hails from Nguru Nworie, Aboh Mbaise LGA, Imo State, said he had returned to Nigeria to attend a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony when the incident took place.
According to Isaac, he was driving back from the ceremony with two friends when they were stopped by five armed police operatives in an unbranded white pickup truck.
Isaac alleges the officers, who identified themselves as the “IGP’s Special Squad”, searched their vehicle and forcibly unlocked his phone, where they saw a N10 million bank alert. The victim says the operatives then
handcuffed and beat him, threatening to kill all three occupants of the car unless he transferred N6 million to them. Under duress, Isaac says he negotiated the amount down to N3 million, which he transferred in two transactions to bank accounts the officers provided.
The victim is appealing to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and compel the return of his money. “All I need is my money to be returned to me and for the IGP to fish out the policemen giving the Nigeria Police Force a bad image,” Isaac stated. “I want justice.”
Bayelsa State Police Spokesperson Musa Mohammed said he was unaware of the incident and that no formal complaint had been submitted as of Friday evening. He noted there is no “IGP Special Squad” in
Bayelsa and suggested the alleged extortionists may have come from elsewhere. An official complaint is expected to be filed by the victim’s lawyer on September 2nd.
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