Corrupt Policemen Arrested for Allegedly Extorting N3 Million from Man in Bayelsa

The Nigeria Police Force has detained several officers from the Zone 16 Command in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, in connection with an alleged N3 million extortion scheme.

The Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi announced the arrests in a statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.

Adejobi explained that the officers were taken into custody after an internal investigation and will be transferred to the Force Headquarters (FHQ) in Abuja for further action.

He wrote: “The policemen involved in this case of extortion of ₦3 million have been arrested. The men are attached to Zone 16 Command in Yenagoa. The command has been asked to produce the men at the FHQ”

The Force Headquarters has reiterated its commitment to purging the police system of corruption and ensuring justice in all reported cases.

The announcement follows a social media video by Kelechi Isaac, a Nigerian from Nguru Nworie in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, who is currently based in Ghana. In the video, Isaac accused Bayelsa State police officers of extorting N3 million from him at gunpoint.

Isaac reported that he had returned to Nigeria for a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony in Bayelsa. While driving back with two friends, their vehicle was flagged down by five police operatives who claimed to be part of the “IGP’s Special Squad” but were driving an unmarked white pickup truck.

The officers’ uniforms lacked name tags, Isaac said. He alleged that the officers searched their vehicle, forced him to unlock his phone, and, upon seeing a N10 million bank alert, began to assault him. They reportedly threatened to shoot him unless he transferred N6 million to them.

“They handcuffed me and drove us away and continued beating me. Before we knew it, they started shooting guns and threatened to kill the three of us. I asked them to take me to a police station but they refused. They said that if I didn’t give them N6 million from the N10 million, they would kill all of us. When the beating became too much, I started negotiating with them, and at the end of the day, I transferred N3 million to them in two bank accounts they provided and drove with us and stopped us at Ahoada in Rivers State and drove off,” he narrated

Isaac further revealed that the operatives provided him with two separate bank accounts for the transfers. He transferred N2 million to a Monie Point Microfinance Bank account belonging to Yusuf Mustafa and another N1 million to a different Monie Point Microfinance Bank account under the name Jerry Ventures.

Isaac has appealed to Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to intervene and ensure that the stolen funds are returned.

“All I need is my money to be returned to me and for the IGP to fish out the policemen giving the Nigeria Police Force a bad image. I believe with these account details, they can be fished out. I want Justice. I want my money returned because it is for my brother’s project. Let the policemen who did this to me be identified so that other Nigerians won’t become their victims,” Mr Isaac stated. I don’t do any illicit business. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country.”