3rd August, 2022
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Operatives of the Rivers State Police command on Wednesday morning arrested about four policemen at Cedar Wood estate, off SARS road, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area alleged be involved in illegal duties.
The apprehended Policemen were accused of using their position to engage in the business of land grabbing, collecting illegal levies and extortion of land developers in the area.
Our correspondent who monitored the incident disclosed that Police Officers with over 15 patrol vans drawn from different Tactical units of the command raided a building where the policemen normally camped inside the estate.
Four officers were arrested and and their operational Hilux vehicle were taken away by the men of tactical unit who came for the arrest.
Speaking to our Correspondent, a resident of the area disclosed that the arrest followed series of petitions by residents to the Commissioner of Police, CP Eboka Friday and the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba on the illegal activities of the policemen and thugs who work with them.
The resident explained that the officers and their collaborators, accompanied by thugs normally come to site where land owners are developing their land, asked them to pay money ranging from N100,000 and above.
He said if the person refused to pay, the land developer would be beaten up and his/her fence brought down.
Another resident said in some cases, the officers and their thugs take over the property of the landlord and sell to another person.
The residents decried the suffering they had gone through in the hands of the officers.
The residents thanked the Commissioner of Police for the arrest of the officers while urging him to ensure they are disciplined in a accordance to the law.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Grace Iringe Koko was yet to respond to text messages sent as at press time.