A Nigerian expatriate based in Ghana, Liberty Isaac, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and bring to justice certain police officers who allegedly extorted ₦3 million from him at gunpoint.
According to The PUNCH, the incident reportedly occurred on Monday in Bayelsa State.
Isaac, who hails from the Nguru Nworie autonomous community in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, recounted his ordeal to journalists in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, on Friday.
He revealed that the police officers accosted him and two of his friends along the Udi axis in Bayelsa State.
Isaac explained that after physically assaulting him and threatening his life, the officers coerced him into transferring ₦3 million to them.
He explained that he had returned to Nigeria after a six-year absence to attend a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony in Bayelsa State.
The journey back to Imo State took a horrifying turn when the policemen intercepted their vehicle and demanded that Isaac unlock his phone.
He recounted, “After attending the traditional wedding, we were driving back to Imo State and around Udi axis, some policemen flagged us down. We stopped and they asked me to unlock my phone. I asked them why and they said I must open my phone. I reminded them that the Inspector General of Police asked Nigerians not to allow policemen on the road to access their phones. Immediately I said that, they started beating me.”
Isaac continued to describe how the situation escalated, stating that the officers handcuffed him and drove them away while continuing to assault him. Despite his request to be taken to a police station, the officers refused and instead intensified their threats.
“They threatened to kill me if I refused to open it. I asked them to take me to a police station, but they refused,” Isaac added.
The situation worsened after the officers accessed Isaac’s phone and discovered a bank alert indicating a ₦10 million balance.
“Immediately they saw the alert, they shouted ‘na dem.’ At that point, the beating increased. They said that if I didn’t give them ₦6 million, they would kill all of us,” he narrated.
Out of fear for his life, Isaac negotiated with the officers and eventually transferred ₦3 million to two different bank accounts they provided.
The officers then drove them to Ahoda in Rivers State before abandoning them and returning in the opposite direction.
To support his claims, Isaac has obtained his bank account statements, which include the details of the transactions made to the accounts provided by the officers. He has since sought legal counsel, and his lawyer has reportedly submitted a petition to the Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa State.
Isaac is resolute in his demand for justice. “All I need is my money to be returned to me and for the Inspector General of Police to fish out the policemen who are giving the Nigeria Police Force a bad image. I believe with these account details they can be fished out.”
Expressing his frustration, Isaac questioned whether it was a crime to return to one’s homeland. He maintained that he is a law-abiding citizen with no involvement in illegal activities.
“I don’t know if it is a crime for somebody to come back to his country. I don’t do any illicit business. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country. I want justice. Let the Inspector General of Police fish them out because they said they are from the IG Squad,” he said.
When contacted, Bayelsa State PPRO Musa Muhammed stated that he was unaware of the incident and had not received any formal complaint regarding the matter.
“I am not aware and I am yet to receive any petition to that effect. You can tell the victim to come and see me, so that we know what to do about his case,” Muhammed responded.
