How Police Operatives Forced me to Transfer N3 Million at Gunpoint – Victim

A Nigerian man, Kelechi Isaac, has accused police officers in Bayelsa State of extorting N3 million from him at gunpoint. Mr. Isaac, who is based in Ghana, detailed his ordeal in a recent interview with reporters in Owerri, Imo State, after attending a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony in Bayelsa.

Mr. Isaac, originally from Nguru Nworie in Imo State, recounted how five police operatives stopped his vehicle on Monday at the Odi Axis in Bayelsa. The officers, claiming to be from the “IGP’s Special Squad,” forced him to unlock his phone after discovering a N10 million alert. Allegedly, the officers then assaulted him and demanded N6 million, threatening to kill him and his companions if he didn’t comply.

“They handcuffed me, continued to beat me, and even fired their guns to intimidate us. I begged them to take us to a police station, but they refused. I was forced to negotiate, ultimately transferring N3 million to them in two separate accounts,” Mr. Isaac explained.

The victim reported transferring N2 million to a Monie Point Microfinance Bank account under the name Yusuf Mustafa and N1 million to another account linked to Jerry Ventures. He has since appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the incident and ensure the return of his money.

“All I want is justice. The IGP must identify these officers to prevent others from becoming their victims. This money was for my brother’s project, and I’m a law-abiding citizen,” Mr. Isaac stated.

The Bayelsa State Police Command has yet to receive a formal complaint regarding the incident. The police spokesperson, Musa Mohammed, noted that while Mr. Isaac informed him of the case, there is no record of a squad called the “IGP Special Squad” in Bayelsa. Mohammed also suggested that the officers involved might not belong to the Bayelsa Command.

This incident adds to a growing list of police extortion cases in Nigeria. Despite measures such as dismissals and suspensions, these incidents persist. Earlier this year, cases of police extortion were reported in Anambra, Abia, and Delta states, sparking widespread outrage.

Mr. Isaac’s lawyer is expected to submit an official complaint on September 2.