IMO State Police Command has arrested its personnel for extorting money from motorists on the highway.
The
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, came on the
heels of raging complaints from motorists over the level of extortion
being experienced in the state since the command reintroduced stop and
search operation.
“
The command has received a number of complaints
from motorists that the stop and search operation had turned to
extortion centres. I must also confirm that the special team set up by
the Commissioner of Police to monitor what our men do on the road,
arrested some policemen for varying offences,” Enwerem said.
While
noting that those picked up by the CP’s special team were currently
explaining their acts to the Command, the PPRO also appealed to
motorists to report all acts of extortion to his office for commensurate
action.
“
The rules governing stop and search operations are very
clear and any policeman who goes out to do what he likes on the road is
definitely on his own,” Enwerem warned.
Some motorists who spoke
to us in Owerri, expressed serious concern that most of the policemen on
the roads were no longer interested in truly finding out the identities
of the passengers or the goods being ferried by vehicles.
Their
anger boiled over as soldiers who station themselves close to Capitol
Hotel, along Owerri-Okigwe highway, have joined the team of
extortionists on Imo roads.
Investigations also revealed that at the
World Bank Housing Estate, Owerri, the policemen extort money from
motorists who avoid the bad spots close to Ideal Hotel roundabout.
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