The Delta State Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, has ordered the immediate redeployment of the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Jesse Division in Ethiope East Local Government Area following allegations of extortion involving the officer and two others.
The action followed a complaint that reached the Delta State Police Command after a video circulated online in which a woman accused the DPO and two officers, identified as Bright and Usman, of demanding N2.5 million to facilitate the release of her brother from police custody.
In a statement issued in Warri, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, said preliminary findings showed that the matter originated from an arrest carried out on January first by the youth leader of Jesse community, who apprehended some suspects and handed them over to the police.
One of those arrested was later identified as Israel Onojeruo, aged 20, who is the complainant’s brother. Police said his arrest followed a confession by another suspect, Okoro Desmond, who allegedly claimed he sold a firearm to him.
The suspects were subsequently transferred to the State Anti Cult Unit for further investigation.
As part of immediate measures taken by the command, the officer identified as Bright has been detained at the command headquarters, while the DPO has been removed from Jesse Division and redeployed to the headquarters pending the outcome of the investigation. The police said the redeployment was also influenced by previous complaints of extortion and unprofessional conduct linked to the officer.
The Commissioner of Police assured members of the public that the command would not protect any officer found guilty of misconduct and that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken in line with the law.
He reaffirmed that the Delta State Police Command would not tolerate extortion, intimidation, incivility, or any form of unprofessional behaviour by its personnel and encouraged residents to report cases of police misconduct through official police channels.
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