Operatives of the Nigerian Police in Imo State have arrested three officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and two from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for allegedly harassing and extorting residents of the state.
A 37-year-old police inspector was also arrested for the same offence.
The police spokesperson in the state, Henry Okoye, made this known in a statement sent to reporters on Tuesday.
Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, alleged that the suspects were notorious for extorting unsuspecting residents, especially the youths in Owerri, using POS machines.
“These are security operatives hiding under the umbrella of Operation Search and Flush in Imo, harassing and extorting unsuspecting members of the public, in particular the youths to the tune of thousands of naira.
They use POS seize and check the phones of their victims, thereby bringing untold hardship to them,” he added.
Mr Okoye assured the public that the police would investigate and bring the suspects to justice.
