A non-governmental and nonprofit making group, Bail is Free Campaign Group, has called on the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin, to probe the activities of officers at the Edo State Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Ozigi Umoru.

In a petition signed by Oni Edigin and Comrade Nosakhare Imaruagheru, Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator respectively and made available to newsmen, the group alleged that under the watch of CP Umoru some police officers attached to Oba Market Police Divisional Headquarter, Ogida Police Divisional Headquarter and Ugbekun Police Divisional Headquarter are exploiting citizens with various degrees of inflicting of fundamental human right, massive fraudulent, extortion, perversion of justice and violation of Police Act 2020.

According to the group, “Oba Market Police Divisional Headquarter: On the 3rd of December 2024, a complain of extortion was reported to us by some Nigeria citizens named David Uzochukwu, Amechi Durum, Mr. Ifeanyi, and Mbah Goodness, alleging that the D.C.O of the above divisional headquarter extort the sum of N830,000 from them for bail.

“On the 4th of December 2024, a female police officer named Segt. Blessing Osayi collected the sum of N50,000 for bail from a Nigeria Citizen named Osaihuomwan Nelson Osaibueku.

“Still on the 4″ of December 2024, a female police officer named Blessing (Other name unknown but can be recognize when seen) collected the sum of N10,000 from a female Nigeria citizen for report, case file and service render.

“Ogida Police Divisional Headquarter: A police officer from this division named Oluwadare (Other names unknown but can be recognize when seen) collected the sum N45,000 from one Nigeria citizen named Esewi Omaghe for bail.

“Ugbekun Police Divisional Headquarter: On the 15th of December 2024, a female police officer from this division named Stella (Other name unknown but can be recognize when seen) collected the sum of $874,000 from the family of an alleged suspect named Wisdom Asukwo for bail but the money was later refunded back to the family through our intervention.

“This same day, a female police officer at the counter named hope (Other name unknown but can be recognize when seen) was demanding for the sum of N2,000 from one Mr. Jacob to visit a suspect in the cell and due to his refusal to pay the said amount, he was assaulted. The matter was immediately reported to the D.P.O.

“All these allegation and others was first sent to the C.P. through his WhatsApp inbox, they were all read but some were never attended to.

“We are Nigerians citizens and not slaves and on this subject matter, we give seven days ultimatum for special investigation over these issues, otherwise, we will be left with no option than to call for a peaceful protest for the removal of the CP and his cohort.”