After the police officers allegedly demanded N500,000 in extortion from the complainants on October 15, the police commissioner got involved to look into the situation. This led to the arrest of the police personnel.
The money had been recovered and given to the complaints, the police commissioner added, adding that it had been discovered during the investigation that the policemen had really taken N100,000 rather than 500,000 as had been reported by some media outlets.
“Following the allegation of extortion by members of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (AKU) attached to the Plateau State Police Command reported by one Victor Ayeni of the Punch Newspaper on the 15th October 2023 with the headline, “Policemen invaded our estate, force us to pay N500,000- Jos residents,” the Plateau State Command has investigated the claim, identified the offending officers, recovered evidence, and arrested the offenders, according to the state command’.
“In a bid to ensure that the matter is given the urgent attention that it deserves, the commissioner of police Plateau State Command, CP Okoro J. Alawari, pcs on the 16th October, 2023 invited the complainants namely; Audu Michael and Bitrus Zakka to his office where the erring officers were paraded and interviewed before them.
The PRO further stated, “But contrary to the Punch report, one of the complainants, Audu Michael voluntarily disclosed to the Police that the Punch reporter, Victor Ayeni misrepresented and exaggerated the fact by reporting that AKU operatives extorted the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) instead of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) as alleged by the complainant, Mr Audu Michael.
“The Police boss who frowns at the unprofessional conduct of the affected officers assures Plateau residents that his administration will not harbour bad eggs in his Command. He therefore ordered the *OC Provost* of the Command to commence the orderly room trial of the officers with immediate effect.”
The spokesperson further said the police commissioner has urged the general public to always report Police unethical conduct to the Police Public Relations Department and Complaints Response Unit (CRU) of the command for prompt attention.
