The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, has discharged three officers for alleged conspiracy, kidnapping, and extortion of unsuspecting victims.
DSP Maureen Chinaka, the state police public relations officer, confirmed this in a statement issued on Friday.
The terminated cops were named by a police official as Jonas Nnamdi, James Daniel, and Ifeanyi Emeka.
Chinaka stated that Nnamdi was a sergeant assigned to the Police Area Command in Aba, while Daniel, a corporal, was assigned to the Department of Operations in Umuahia, and Emeka, another corporal, was assigned to the state’s Eziama Divisional Force Headquarters.
She stated that the three operatives were arrested on January 29 after they were discovered to be armed with an electric baton, an assault rifle, and a Beretta pistol.
Chinaka claimed that the operatives were seized alongside two other unnamed citizens by a divisional police officer in the Abayi Area of the state.
She said, “The officers allegedly conspired and hired a minibus, abducted some civilians along Port Harcourt Motorway, threatened and extorted them, and thereafter demanded extra money from their families for their release.
“An investigation/orderly room trial was initiated by the (state police) command, and the investigation confirmed their involvement in the unprofessional conduct, which is prejudicial to discipline and unbecoming of officers of the Nigeria Police Force, leading to their dismissal.
“Their official accoutrements have been retrieved by the command’s Provost, and they cease to be members of the force.”
The Force spokesperson, Chinaka, stated that the dismissed officers and civilian accomplices have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department for prosecution.
The commissioner has reaffirmed the command’s zero tolerance for corruption and misconduct, assuring Nigerians that bad eggs in the force will not be tolerated.
The command remains committed to the vision of the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.
