Pecohub The Imo State Police Command on Saturday confirmed the arrest of security operatives stationed at Seven and Half Junction in the Obowo Local Government Area of the State for alleged extortion of motorists.
Police spokesperson for Imo state Command, Henry Okoye, made the confirmation on Saturday, after a trending video showed the security operatives posted to the area searching phones and extorting travellers.
Okoye added that each of the operatives will be released to their appropriate agencies for discipline after investigations.
“Update on Viral Video Involving JTF Personnel in Obowo. The personnel involved in the Joint Security Patrol at Obowo, as seen in the viral video, have all been arrested and are currently in detention. Upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation, each personnel will be released to their respective security agencies for appropriate disciplinary action”.
In the video, the security operatives were seen checking the phones and bank apps of the travellers.
A traveller had recorded the incident while the affected persons stood and watched helplessly.
The security operatives drawn from Army, Police, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps were stationed at Seven and Half and Half Amanze Junctions to guarantee security and safe passage of travellers.
The video showed a Police operative at the back of a patrol van with several young boys and a lady standing, searching the bank apps in a phone.
Also another security operative was seen inside a Hilux patrol vehicle who seized a traveller’s laptop while checking papers.
At the same scene, another operative was telling a colleague to confirm the money extorted from a traveller, saying, “You don confirm the money” (have you confirmed the money).
Recall that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun had warned operatives against stopping and searching peoples phones, saying it was criminal and illegal.
Already, people have taken to social media to share the video demanding authorities to discipline the operatives for their illegal actions.
