By Simeon OSAJIE
The Complaint Response Unit (CRU) of the Nigeria Police Force has pledged to investigate allegations of extortion against officers from Iyamho Police Division in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, following a viral social media post accusing Inspector Joshua Emperor and his team of forcefully extorting N410,000 from a citizen identified as Mr. Gabriel.
According to the complaint posted on X (formerly Twitter) by user Edo BabaJ on Sunday, the incident occurred on October 23, 2026, when Mr. Gabriel and his brother were intercepted by police officers from Iyamho Division, taken to the station, and subjected to harassment and intimidation.
The post narrated that the officers initially searched the brothers at the station before releasing the sibling, but detained Mr. Gabriel and forcefully searched his phone. Despite finding nothing incriminating on the device, the officers allegedly pressured him to admit to being a “cultist.”
“With all the intimidation and harassment and the pressure, now come take agrees he be cultist,” the complaint stated, describing how the officers then escorted Mr. Gabriel to a Point of Sale (POS) operator in Iyamho, where they forced him to withdraw and hand over N410,000.
The complainant claimed to possess receipts and video evidence showing the money being collected and the victim making the cash withdrawal. Screenshots of the transaction were reportedly shared alongside the post.
The post called on the Edo State Commissioner of Police and the State Police Command to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that all officers involved face appropriate disciplinary action.
“Say no to extortion, police in Etsako don’t want to hear, and police in Edo State don’t want to here,” the post urged, calling on citizens to speak out against police misconduct.
In response to the complaint, the Police Complaint Response Unit acknowledged the allegation and urged the victim to reach out to the unit for proper investigation. The CRU stated it has vowed to “investigate and fish out the officers involved.”
The development comes amid growing concerns over police extortion and abuse of power in Nigeria, with citizens increasingly resorting to social media to expose misconduct by law enforcement personnel.
Meanwhile efforts by The9jaTREND Correspondent to speak with the Edo State Police Command, were unsuccessful as the Command’s spokesperson ASP Eno Nkereuwem Ikoedem, switch off her phone and text messages sent to her were not responded to as at the time of filing in this report