By Ayodele Oni
For alleged involvement in operations of illegal road blocks, the Edo State Police Command has dismissed five officers from service while one other was demoted in rank.
The Command said in a statement that they were sanctioned for their alleged roles in a criminal syndicate in the state.
They were also accused of harassing, abducting, and extorting innocent citizens in Benin City, the state capital.
According to the Command, the operation followed months of complaints and undercover investigations.
Police authority say the dismissed personnel would also face prosecution in court.
The Command described the syndicate’s activities as “a betrayal of public trust” and vowed that no officer found culpable will be shielded.
Residents of Benin had long raised concerns about illegal checkpoints and harassment by rogue officers.
The Police said this action is part of efforts to restore confidence and rid the force of bad elements.
The Commissioner of Police urged members of the public to keep reporting cases of extortion and abuse, promising that complaints would be treated with urgency.
A special complaints desk has also been set up for victims of police misconduct.
The command assured that investigations are still ongoing and more arrests could follow as they track other members linked to the syndicate
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