Police detain 17 officers in Kano over extortion, bribery

Police Extortion

Police extortion at roadblocks is a rampant criminal act in Nigeria police force

The police in Kano has detained no fewer than 17 officers and men of its command over allegations of extortion and bribery.

Kano Police Public Relation Officer, Rilwanu Dutse, told newsmen yesterday, that the affected officers were arrested by X-squad team monitoring several duty posts in the ancient city.

It will be recalled that heavy presence of security forces has become the order of the day in the state since the January 20 attack by an Islamist sect, which led to proliferation of checkpoints to checkmate activities of criminals.

The spokesperson of the command  explained that the action followed ‘bitter complaints’ from the general public bordering on act of misdemeanour against officers deployed in strategic places in the city, adding that the timely response paid off handsomely.

Mr. Rilwanu said orderly room trial had since commenced to ascertain the involvement of the arrested officers, adding “so far,  the command has found five of such officer guilty of extortion, while robust  investigations is on  for 12 others in detention.”

He added that the command would apply the big stick to serve as deterrent to others still in the service, noting that “security business under the current dispensation in the country has outgrown extortion.”

He said that the  X-Squad  has been boosted by the posting of more  personnel to enable them cover more areas, advising officers and men of the command to embrace the new order to safeguard their integrity.

Culled from ASCOLOGY NEWS