The victims of alleged extortion of N6.5 million by the four officers paraded by the Rivers State Police Command on Monday have narrated their ordeal in the hands of the law enforcement officers to journalists.
Promise Patrick, one of the victims who spoke on behalf of others, said their ordeal began on 31st July 2023, when the police officers intercepted the car he was driving with the others at Ikiri junction, Omoku, headquarters of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni local government area of Rivers State.
He said the officers – six in number and heavily armed – virtually took command of their vehicle, a Sienna car from Omoku, and forced them to drive to numerous places in Rivers to Bayelsa and Delta states.
He disclosed that they slept on the way at Ughelli in Delta state till daybreak.
Patrick said in Delta State, the Police Officers took N2 million from one of those in the vehicle and another N4.5 million naira from him.
Meanwhile, a Human Rights Advocate, Prince Wiro, who is also the National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign who followed up on the case has given more insight on how the Police officers were arrested.
Mr Wiro stated that when the victims reported to him, he worked on certain clues the police officers left with the victims in the process of extorting them.
He said from the clues, he was able to obtain the name, picture and force Identification number of one of the officers.
Wiro said he took the victims to the office of the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, where he presented the information on the officer and the victims also made their statement.
The activist disclosed that through investigation, one of the police officers was arrested and his arrest led to the arrest of three others.
Mr Wiro also revealed that an identification parade had been conducted at the Tactical unit of Rivers Police Command where the officers were being detained and three of the victims identified the officers.
He commended the Rivers Police Command, especially the Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko for the arrest of the officers who are from a neighbouring state.
The activist also urged police authority to ensure Justice is done to all parties in the matter to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to get involved in extortion and other unprofessional conduct.
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka, had on Monday paraded four of the officers for alleged extortion.
