How Nigerian Police Officers in Enugu Extorted N1 Million from a Traveller

Officers from the Awkunanaw Police Station in Garriki Enugu are facing trial for allegedly extorting N1 million from a traveller. The victim’s brother, who goes by the handle @Mr_Robmichael1 on X, detailed the ordeal, claiming that his brother was stopped by the officers, kidnapped, and taken to an undisclosed village where the extortion took place. The officers reportedly forced the traveller to withdraw the large sum, and also charged an additional N50,000 as a POS transaction fee.

The brother’s account, posted on social media, reads: “Nigerian Police officer in Enugu used POS to collect 1m from my younger brother after kidnapping him and took him to unknown village.” He also expressed his gratitude to individuals who helped in resolving the matter, stating, “Thanks to @Jamessucre2 @DanNdukwe.”

Following the public outcry, the Enugu State Police Command acted swiftly. They identified the officers involved and managed to recover the extorted money. Dan Ndukwe, the state Police Public Relations Officer, condemned the officers’ actions, declaring that they would face legal repercussions for their misconduct.

Further updates from @Mr_Robmichael1 revealed that after reporting the incident, he and his team visited the police station, where the officers involved were identified. He acknowledged the swift response of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and the prompt recovery of the N1 million. The DPO of Awkunanaw Police Station, Mr. Chukwuegu Longinus, acted immediately after the case was reported, helping to recover the funds.

Dan Ndukwe reaffirmed the police’s commitment to addressing the issue, stating, “This is totally unacceptable… refunding the money isn’t enough. The police officers involved will have to face the consequences of their actions.” He further emphasized that despite the actions of a few officers, the entire Nigerian Police Force should not be judged by the misconduct of a few individuals.