May 31, (THEWILL) – The Zone 16 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has apprehended four police personnel including an Inspector, involved in the alleged abduction and extortion of N20 million from two alleged internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, in Bayelsa State.
The arrested Police personnel, however, confessed that two civilian accomplices, one Eyi Matthew Excel, who contested the last State House of Assembly election under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa, and Mayor Goodluck Arab, set up the Yahoo boys for the alleged extortion scam.
It was gathered that the accused policemen had stormed the residence of the Yahoo boys, who are indigenes of Bayelsa State but arrived from Ghana last Monday, and arrested them with blindfolds to an unknown hotel in Azikoro town.
“They threatened to kill the boys and claimed someone from Ghana accused them of theft. They threatened to kill them if they don’t part with N50 million. The boys later succumb and agreed to part with N20 million. They took them to GTB and Access Bank and made two separate transfers of N7m and N13m,” a source said.
While a report claimed the accused policemen later offered their victim friendship and protection in Yenagoa and exchange numbers, others claimed they asked for another 10 million a few days later from the victims.
It was gathered that a friend of the victims, who learnt about their ordeal, decided to report to the Nigeria Police Force headquarters number advertised and it attracted the attention of the police’s top echelon.
Preliminary investigations showed that the AIG, Zone 16, Benjamin Okolo, ordered the arrest of the accused policemen and additional facts revealed that their action was without the knowledge of their superior officers.
“They were not members of a team. They work at various units but do shady deals together. In the past, they were nearly killed by some Military officers along Agbura road in Ogbia Local Government Area where they mounted illegal roadblock to extort oil bunkerers,” the source continued.
Already, the accused police personnel have returned the N2.5 million they each made from the extortion deal. While Eyi Mattthew Excel is reported to have returned his share of the deal but is still at large, Mayor was arrested and granted bail but has absconded.
Confirming the incident, the PPRO, Zone 16, SP Ikwo Kevin, said some fraudsters had defrauded some foreigners of the sum of twenty-eight thousand dollars, before being apprehended by some police officers.
“The fraudsters confessed to the crime and pleaded for leniency but instead of them doing the needful, they compromised by collecting the monies from them, so when the AIG got wind of the matter, he ordered their arrest and detention.
“Information we got was that the police got 10 million Naira while the informant also got 10 million Naira of his own share but has eventually returned 7.5 million Naira from his hideout and is still on the run.
“The monies they got were also recovered, while investigation is on,” she said.
