The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has detained four of its officers for allegedly extorting N53,000 from Dr. Musa Aliyu, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, during an illegal stop-and-search operation in Abuja .
FCT Commissioner of Police Ahmed Sanusi disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists, describing the officers as “thieves” who had no place in the Nigeria Police Force .
According to Sanusi, the officers abandoned their assigned duty posts, mounted an unauthorised checkpoint around the Banex area in Wuse, and extorted the ICPC chairman without knowing his identity . The officers allegedly forced Aliyu to withdraw N53,000 through a Point of Sale operator, made him pay the transaction charges, and then shared the money among themselves .
“They are a gang of criminals who left various divisions, clustered together, moved to Wuse Banex and created a checkpoint where they perpetrated this act before fleeing,” Sanusi said .
The commissioner revealed that the command declared the officers wanted and arrested their alleged gang leader, whose confession led investigators to the remaining suspects . He assured that the officers would face severe disciplinary action, including possible dismissal .
Sanusi also reiterated the Inspector-General of Police’s directive prohibiting officers from indiscriminately searching citizens’ mobile phones during patrols and urged residents to report incidents of extortion through police emergency lines .