THE Delta State Police Commissioner, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi has ordered the removal of officers implicated in the extortion of Two million four hundred and sixty-five thousand Naira at Abraka Division.
The police chief vows to deal decisively with any officer who fails to uphold the sanctity of the police.
Confirming the development, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bright Edafe said: “Following the reported case of extortion of the sum of Two Million, four hundred and sixty-five thousand naira (#2,465,000) by the DCO 2 Abraka Division. The Commissioner of Police Delta State CP Abaniwonda Olufemi on receipt of this disturbing report directed the DPO Abraka to report at the headquarters alongside the DCO 2 SP Ibrahim Ishaku.
“The CP after getting brief of the disturbing incident immediately ordered the removal of the DCO 2 SP Ibrahim Ishaku with immediate effect and the officer issued a query for misconduct.
“The Commissioner of Police Delta State CP Abiniwonda reiterates that the Command under his watch will deal decisively with any recalcitrant officer who carries out any form of misconduct, extortion, or incivility to members of the public,” Edafe stated.
He noted that the CP assures the public of the readiness of the Command under his watch to deal decisively with any erring officer while hoping that this will serve as a deterrent to others.
He further assures members of the public that no officer found wanting will be spared noting that serving the people of Delta state with honesty and strict adherence to their human rights remains a top priority of the Command.
Meanwhile, Commercial activities and vehicular movement were Wednesday truncated for several hours as angry protesters from Ekiugbo Community barricaded roads within Ughelli metropolis, over the alleged misconduct of Police and local security agents in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The protesters armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as, ‘Freeman is a Kidnapper he must go, ‘Police Brutality is getting too much, ‘Police in Ughelli are fighting the innocents instead of criminals, ‘Too much of police illegal activities in the land, ‘Ughelli Police should allow our people free movement’ amongst other.
They accuse a sect of the police and Hunters attached to the Ughelli Area command of alleged kidnapping.
Addressing newsmen, the President General of Ekiugbo community, Comrade Bernard Baker, said, “We are protesting because of the evil being penetrated by Hunters and few policemen mostly the one called Freeman and a Hunter identified as Makolomi.
“A lot of kidnappings have been going on in our communities and despite the efforts of the Ovie, UDU, President General, who brought all the communities President General to have a force as security is concerned and we have been doing the job.
“But the police are just there to go and terrorise and extort people as they move about with battle axes, PoS machines to transfer money from the suspect, it is surprising to see police officers with battle axes.
“We came to know that the Hunters are the mastermind of kidnapping in Ughelli led by that same Freeman, anytime there is an issue of kidnapping the Hunters will not come because they are hiding the kidnappers