Ghana-based Nigerian accuses Bayelsa policemen of N3m extortion

A Ghana-based Nigerian, Liberty Isaac, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to fish out some policemen who allegedly extorted N3m from him at gunpoint on Monday.

Isaac, who hails from Nguru Nworie autonomous community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, made the appeal while speaking with journalists in Owerri, the state capital on Friday.

He said the policemen accosted him and two of his friends on Monday at Udi axis in Bayelsa State and forced him at gunpoint to transfer N3m to them after manhandling him and threatening to shoot him.

Disclosing that he was in the country to attend a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony in Bayelsa State, Isaac stated that the policemen forced him to unlock his phone and on seeing a credit bank alert of N10m, they started beating him and threatened to kill him if he failed to transfer N6m to them.

He said, “I’m based in Ghana. I have not been to Nigeria for six years now. I came to Nigeria to attend a friend’s traditional wedding in Bayelsa State.

“After attending the traditional wedding, we were driving back to Imo State and around Udi axis, some policemen flagged us down. We stopped and they asked me to unlock my phone. I asked them why and they said I must open my phone. I reminded them that the Inspector General of Police asked Nigerians not to allow policemen on the road to access their phones. Immediately I said that, they started beating me.

He continued, “They handcuffed me and drove us away and continued beating me. They threatened to kill me if I refused to open it. I asked them to take me to a police station, but they refused.”

Isaac added that immediately they accessed his phone, they went to his messages log and saw a N10 million bank alert.

He continued, “Immediately they saw the alert, they shouted ‘na dem.’

“At that point, the beating increased. They said that if I didn’t give them N6m, they would kill all of us. Out of fear, I started negotiating with them and at end of the day, I transferred N3m to them in two bank accounts they provided and drove with us and stopped us at Ahoda in Rivers State and drove back.

“I have printed my account statements from my banks and these are the account details they provided to which I transferred the money.”

Isaac said he had consulted a lawyer who had written to the Police Public Relations Officer in Bayelsa State.

“All I need is my money to be returned to me and for the Inspector General of Police to fish out the policemen who are giving the Nigeria Police Force a bad image. I believe with these account details they can be fished out.

“I want justice. I want my money returned to me because it is for my project. I want justice. Let the policemen who did this to me be identified so that other Nigerians won’t become their victims.

“I don’t know if it is a crime for somebody to come back to his country. I don’t do any illicit business. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country. I want justice. Let the Inspector General of Police fish them out because they said they are from the IG Squad,” he added.

When contacted, the Bayelsa State PPRO, Musa Muhammed, said that he was unaware of the development.

He said, “I am not aware and I am yet to receive any petition to that effect. You can tell the victim to come and see me, so that we know what to do about his case.”