Police nab three cops after alleged extortion of Abia travellers

The Rivers State Police Command has apprehended three police officers for abducting and extorting over N4m from travellers in Abia State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the officers carried out the act on Monday, January 15, while disguising themselves as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The two male victims, Uwaka Ifeanyi and Kalu Nnana, were driving along the Aba-Owerri Road when the officers accosted and kidnapped them.

A police source who preferred anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident told our correspondent on Sunday that the officers, after kidnapping them, also extorted their victims in the process.

The source said, “The two travellers had driven into a filling station along the area when the culprits who came with their van approached them and identified themselves as the EFCC officials. They also brought out their identification cards bearing the EFCC logo. After that, they arrested the two victims, took them into their van and threatened to take them to their Lagos zonal office in connection with an ongoing investigation.  When they got to Delta State en route to Lagos, the policemen started negotiating with them.  The victims were later made to pay a sum of N4.2m through transfer into a certain account.

“Immediately after the officers confirmed the payment, they released and abandoned their victims around the Government Residential Area in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.”

The source added that the two victims reported the incident, thereby prompting the police to begin an investigation immediately.

PUNCH Metro gathered that this led to the arrest of ASP Doubara Edonyabo and ASP Talent Mungo who are both attached to the Intelligence and Surveillance Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

Our correspondent also learnt that Inspector Odey Michael of the command was arrested as well. It was gathered that the suspects had been detained for further investigation.

“The police command will issue queries to the arrested officers while Inspector Odey will be subjected to an orderly room trial,” the police source added.

When contacted, the state Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.

She said, “The incident happened. It’s a case of extortion.”