The Imo State Police Command has warned Point of Sale (POS) operators against assisting police officers in extorting members of the public, saying anyone found facilitating such illegal transactions will face prosecution for aiding corruption.
The warning follows allegations that a motorist, Stephen Nnaemeka Cookey, was allegedly forced to transfer ₦515,000 through a POS operator after an encounter with operatives of a Joint Task Force (JTF) team at the Owerri Airport Junction along the Owerri-Aba Expressway.
Speaking during a live radio programme, The Brief on Groove FM Owerri, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, said the command would not tolerate any collaboration between police personnel and POS operators used to facilitate extortion.
According to Okoye, any POS operator who provides an account for money to be transferred on behalf of a police officer in exchange for cash should regard the transaction as suspicious and could be held liable for aiding corrupt practices.
“POS operators should be wary and careful of transactions involving policemen. If a police operative asks you to provide your account details so money can be transferred to you before handing over cash, that is a red flag. We will not spare any POS operator involved in such activities,” he said.
The police spokesperson also disclosed that the command is reviewing the activities of the Joint Task Force teams operating across the state. He said officers may undergo retraining, adding that the tactical units could be disbanded if the reforms fail to address complaints from the public.
Okoye explained that the JTF was established to combat kidnapping, terrorism and armed robbery on major highways but acknowledged that the command had received several complaints regarding the conduct of some operatives.
He further directed security personnel to stop wearing face masks while carrying out routine duties, saying the practice creates fear among members of the public and could make officers appear indistinguishable from criminals.
The police spokesperson also condemned the profiling of young Nigerians based on their appearance, stressing that officers should not target individuals because of tattoos, hairstyles, dressing or other physical attributes. He added that searching a person’s mobile phone without legal justification is unlawful unless the device is required as evidence in an ongoing investigation.
The Imo State Police Command reiterated its commitment to professional policing and urged residents to report any case of misconduct by security personnel through the appropriate channels.
