The Anambra State Police command has responded to the claims that some of its Operatives were involved in extortion at the Onitsha Central Police Station.

Harrison Gwamnishu, a human rights advocate and the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation’s Coordinator, described an arrest involving officers from the Anambra State Police command.

According to Gwamnishu, a man by the name of Chidiebere was detained on July 4th after leaving the ShopRite Mall, where he had gone to make purchases. He was detained by the participating police officers, including Harrison Emerenini, after they noticed him using an iPhone.

After being blackmailed with being called an IPOB member, he was later forced to pay N600,500 in extortion. He claimed that the man received full payment for the extorted funds following his group’s assistance.

Meanwhile, CP Echeng Echeng, the Commissioner of Anambra State Police, has vowed to find and punish the perpetrators of such heinous crimes.

According to a statement made by DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, Spokesperson for the state Police Command, the Commissioner has mandated an investigation into the situation.

“The attention of Anambra State Police Command has been called to a trending social media story on extorted but recovered money from a cop in the Command,” Ikenga added.

“The Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of X-Squad has been instructed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, to look into and determine the circumstances surrounding the occurrence.

“The CP, who disapproved of the incident, stressed that such instances of unprofessional behavior by police officers will not be tolerated by the command under his supervision.

Additionally, he asked members of the public to contact the X Squad and the Command’s Public Complaints Bureau PCB to report any police misconduct.