Kogi: Police Officers Arrested Over Viral Video

By Adesina Soyooye

For some Officers of the Nigeria Police Force caught in a disgraceful video that has gone viral, it is most likely to be the end of their career in the Force. They may also spend some time in jail.

Trouble began for them when a viral video of them assaulting and “robbing” commuters, including a student, along Okene road surfaced on Saturday, October 16, 2021.

Commercial vehicles parked  in protest, and a commentator told the shameful story.

It was at Okene where the Police Officers, apparently on patrol duties,  stopped them and began their illegal duties. When they spotted the student with a laptop, he was asked to open his phone. But nothing incriminating was found.

They then focused on his laptop and accused him of doing “yahoo-yahoo” business with it. He denied vehemently, and told them his laptop was for his school assignments.

They asked him for money. He said he did not have any money on him.They forced him to call his people in Benin to transfer the sum of N25.000 (Twenty Five Thousand Naira) to him. When the money was transferred to him, they bundled him into their operational vehicle. One of them changed his uniform to mufti, and they took him to a POS to withdraw the money.

When one of the  commuters protested, he was slapped very hard by one of the Policemen.

The video caused a huge embarrassment to the NPF. An investigation ensued, and according to a release by the Kogi State Police Command signed by its spokesperson, DSP William Ovye Aya, the Policemen have been arrested, and are in detention.

He gave their names as: ASP Isah Barnabas, Inspector Ifediegwu Godwin, Sgt Emmanuel  Ochima, and the one who slapped one of the travellers,  CPL Umameh Mathias.

While ASP Barnabas has been queried as his fate would be decided by the Force Headquarters and finally, the Police Service Commission, the fate of the others who are already facing Orderly Room Trial, will be decided at the State Command level.

Following is the full text of the kogi State Command on the  incident.

OFFICERS IN VIRAL VIDEO NOW IN CUSTODY AS KOGI COMMAND COMMENCES INVESTIGATIONS

“The Kogi State Police Command has commenced investigations into a trending video where Police personnel attached to Adogo Division, while on patrol duty along Adogo-Okene road, reportedly extorted the sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Naira (N25,000) from a traveller while another was physically assaulted by one of the men in uniform.

“The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban, psc (+), fdc, while condemning the incident, noted that the Police officers have been identified and detained at the State Criminal Investigations Department. The officers are: ASP Isah Barnabas, Inspector Ifediegwu Godwin, Sgt Emmanuel Ochima and CPL Umameh Mathias who physically assaulted one of the travellers. The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) has been issued an official query while the three (3) other junior officers are currently undergoing orderly room trial (Police internal disciplinary actions).

“The CP further noted that the Command is doing its best to establish contact with the victims. He enjoined the victims to reach out to the Command thorough 08107899269.

“He assured that any of the officers found wanting in the investigations would be dealt with accordingly.

“DSP William Ovye Aya,

Police Public Relations Officer,

For: Commissioner of Police,

Kogi State Command”