A Nigerian living in Ghana, Liberty Kelechi Isaac, has made an urgent appeal to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to identify and bring to justice the policemen who extorted N3 million from him at gunpoint.
Isaac, a native of Nguru Nworie autonomous community in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, recounted his harrowing experience to journalists in Owerri, detailing how he and two friends were accosted by police officers on their way back from a traditional wedding in Bayelsa State.
Isaac explained that the incident occurred after he returned to Nigeria for the first time in six years to attend a friend’s traditional marriage ceremony.
“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.”
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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.
He continued, “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. He emphasized, 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, claimed he was unaware of the incident and had not yet received any petition regarding the matter.
“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,” Muhammed said.
