00:00Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF has announced the arrest of some serving and already dismissed police
00:07officers who worked together as a criminal gang terrorizing members of the public in Edo State.
00:12The State Commissioner of Police, Mande Hagbonica who made this known in a press release made available a few hours
00:19ago, said the arrest was a major breakthrough against the suspected criminal elements pretending to be law enforcement officers to
00:27perpetrate heinous crimes within the state capital, Benin City and its environs.
00:32It may be recalled that there have been outcry by residents in Edo State that law enforcement officers are committing
00:39or participating in criminal activities in the state, specifically, in August 2025, some of policemen alongside some civilians were accused
00:48of abducting a resident in Benin City, the syndicate was said to have used the silver Toyota Yaris to terrorize
00:55citizens, seizing their phones and belongings through intimidation and armed robbery.
00:59In December 2025, four policemen were accused of extorting 980,000 Nairas from a local artisan, Gudna Soneka, after assaulting
01:10him, earlier in September 2025.
01:13The Edo State Police Command reportedly recovered and returned 300,000 Nairas extorted from a furniture maker by offices attached
01:22to the Obamarket Area Command in Benin City, May 2025.
01:27Six officers, including a chief superintendent of police, CSP, were summoned to Abuja after a viral video showed them demanding
01:36either 5,000 Nairas or 5 liters of fuel from motorists for lacking electronic central motor registry, ECMR proof, a
01:46policy that had actually been suspended then.
01:48Also in August 2025, six officers were disciplined for extorting 2,000 Nairas from members of the National Association of
01:57Seadogs near Benin City after they reportedly used the point-of-sale, POS, machine to withdraw the funds unlawfully.
02:05According to the press statement signed by the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Akodyu, the Edo
02:14State Police Command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonica, FDC, wishes to
02:23inform the general public of a major breakthrough in the fight against criminal elements disguising as law enforcement officers to
02:30perpetrate heinous crimes within Benin City and its environs.
02:34The command had, in recent times, received several complaints from members of the public alleging harassment, abduction, and extortion by
02:43individuals posing as police officers.
02:45These suspects reportedly operate along Teboga Axis of Haduawa, where they unlawfully stop unsuspecting citizens, forcefully convey them around various
02:55roads within Benin City, and eventually take them to point-of-sale, POS operators to fraudulently extort money from them
03:02under duress.
03:03Disturbed by the gravity of these allegations, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonica, FDC, immediately ordered a discreet and
03:13intelligence-driven investigation into the matter.
03:16Through sustained surveillance, technical intelligence, and coordinated operations by operatives of the command, the criminal network was successfully busted.
03:26The following suspects have been arrested in connection with these crimes.
03:56Male, mini-bus driver.
03:58Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspects, including some serving and dismissed police personnel, formed a well-organized criminal syndicate responsible
04:08for a series of serious crimes including abduction and extortion of innocent citizens.
04:13They exploited, police accoutrements to deceive victims and carried out their operations with impunity, thereby bringing the name of the
04:21Nigeria Police Force into disrepute.
04:24Those that are serving personnel are currently undergoing internal disciplinary procedures, including orderly room trials.
04:32Upon conclusion of these processes and the ongoing investigation, they will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction to
04:39face the full weight of the law.
04:41The command hereby calls on all victims who may have encountered or fallen prey to this organized criminal gang to
04:48come forward and assist the police with useful information that will aid further investigation and prosecution.
04:54Furthermore, the Edo State Police Command uses this medium to strongly warn all POS operators and merchants to be wary
05:02of any individual, including persons in police uniform, who attempt to use their facilities for unlawful transactions or extortion.
05:11Any POS operator found to be complicit in such illegal activities will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
05:18In line with the mandate of the Inspector General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
05:23IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, PSC, PLUS, NPM, the command reassures the good people of Edo State of its unwavering commitment
05:33to sanitizing the system, restoring public confidence, and ensuring that no individual, regardless of status, is above the law.
05:42Reach the command through, tilde the Complainant Response Unit, CRU 08100389992, tilde Public Complaints Bureau, PCB 081509999335.
06:08Ossers who are hung H darkness, bringing you the news in the more digital we
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