The Zonal Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 16, has taken action by arresting and detaining four police personnel involved in an alleged abduction and extortion case in Bayelsa State. The incident occurred when two suspected internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as Yahoo boys, were targeted by the accused policemen.
According to reports, the arrested police personnel have admitted to collaborating with two civilians, identified as Eyi Mattthew Excel and Mayor Goodluck Arab, to carry out the extortion and kidnapping scheme. The victims, who are natives of Bayelsa State but had recently arrived from Ghana, were forcibly taken from their residence by the accused policemen. They were then blindfolded and taken to an undisclosed hotel in Azikoro town, where they were subjected to physical torture and threats of harm if they failed to cooperate.
This arrest highlights the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force to address misconduct within its ranks and hold accountable those involved in illegal activities. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further actions will be taken based on the evidence gathered.
The Zonal Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 16, has taken action by arresting and detaining four police personnel involved in an alleged abduction and extortion case in Bayelsa State. The incident unfolded when two suspected internet fraudsters, known as Yahoo boys, were targeted by the accused policemen.
According to reports, the arrested police personnel have confessed that they collaborated with two civilians, Eyi Mattthew Excel and Mayor Goodluck Arab, to carry out the extortion and kidnapping scheme. The victims, who are originally from Bayelsa State but had recently returned from Ghana, were forcefully taken from their residence by the accused policemen. They were then blindfolded and transported to an undisclosed hotel in Azikoro town, where they were subjected to physical torture and threats of harm unless they complied with the demands.
The accused policemen claimed that someone from Ghana accused the Yahoo boys of theft and threatened to kill them unless they paid N50 million. After negotiations, the victims paid a total of N20 million, withdrawn in two separate amounts from different banks in Yenagoa.
Reports indicate that the accused police personnel later established a friendly relationship with the victims and exchanged contact information while offering them protection in Yenagoa. Some sources also claim that the accused policemen demanded an additional N10 million from the victims a few days later.
The incident came to light when a friend of the victims reported the ordeal to the Nigeria Police Force headquarters using the exchanged contact information. The report drew the attention of senior police officials, leading to the arrest of the accused policemen.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Zone 16, Benjamin Okolo, ordered the arrest of the accused personnel. It was also discovered that the accused policemen were not part of an official team and had been operating without the knowledge of their superiors.
The accused police personnel have reportedly returned the money they received from the extortion scheme, while one civilian accomplice, Eyi Mattthew Excel, is still at large, and Mayor Goodluck Arab has been arrested but subsequently absconded.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of Zone 16, Mrs. Ikwo Kevin, stated that the suspected internet fraudsters had defrauded foreign nationals of $28,000 and were initially arrested by some police officers. However, instead of following proper procedures, the officers compromised and extorted money from the fraudsters. Upon learning of the matter, the AIG ordered the arrest and detention of those involved.
Investigations are ongoing, and the recovered funds have been returned. Efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining individuals involved in the extortion case.
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