Policemen In Trouble Over POS Extortion Of ₦200,000 From Drinks Seller

Six officers attached to the Okpoko Police Division in Onitsha, Anambra State, have been detained over their alleged involvement in the extortion of ₦200,000 from a civilian using a Point of Sale (PoS) operator.

The State Command detained the officers following a viral video circulating on social media in which the victim’s wife narrated how her husband, a drink seller, was allegedly harassed, handcuffed and forced to transfer money to police officers after they stopped him while returning from Relief Market in Onitsha.

It was learnt that the incident reportedly occurred over the weekend around the busy Upper Iweka axis of the Onitsha–Awka–Enugu Expressway.

According to the woman in the video, her husband had gone to Relief Market to purchase drinks for his business when he was intercepted under the Upper Iweka flyover by police officers who demanded the particulars of his bus.

She said the victim presented all the required vehicle documents, which were confirmed to be valid, but the officers allegedly arrested him nonetheless.

Despite having complete documents, the officers reportedly seized his vehicle particulars and demanded ₦500,000 for his release.

Unable to pay the amount, the victim pleaded with the officers and eventually transferred ₦200,000 through a PoS operator to avoid being detained.

According to the narration in the video, the police officers allegedly took the victim to a PoS operator in the Okpoko area of Onitsha where the money was transferred into an account yet to be disclosed.

A voice-over accompanying the footage further alleged that the officers regularly force motorists and other victims in the area to make similar payments daily to avoid harassment or detention.

Reacting to the development, the Anambra State Police Command confirmed that the video had been intercepted and that an investigation had been launched into the incident.

In a statement on Monday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had ordered the detention of the six officers allegedly involved pending the outcome of the investigation.

Ikenga said the detained officers include two Assistant Superintendents of Police and four Inspectors.

He added that the money allegedly extorted from the victim had already been recovered and returned.

“The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered the detention of the six officers allegedly involved in the incident pending the outcome of ongoing investigations,” the statement said.

“The officers include two Assistant Superintendents of Police and four Inspectors of Police. Meanwhile, senior officers connected to the incident have been queried, while statements from the other ranks involved have been taken under caution in line with established police investigative procedures.”

The police spokesperson further revealed that the command had begun steps to arrest the PoS operator who allegedly facilitated the transaction, noting that the person’s involvement suggests possible conspiracy.

He also said the police, through the Divisional Police Officer of Okpoko Division, had invited the victim to come forward and provide additional testimony to aid the ongoing investigation.

Ikenga assured the public that the command was treating the matter seriously and promised that further updates would be communicated as the investigation progresses.