The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has detained four police officers accused of extorting ₦53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN), during an illegal stop-and-search operation in Abuja.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed that the officers allegedly abandoned their official duty posts and mounted an unauthorized checkpoint around the Banex area in Wuse, where they stopped and extorted Dr. Aliyu without knowing his identity.
Describing the officers as “thieves” unworthy of wearing the police uniform, Sanusi revealed that the ICPC chairman was compelled to withdraw the money through a Point of Sale (POS) operator and also paid the associated transaction charges before handing over the cash. According to the commissioner, the officers subsequently shared the proceeds among themselves. 
Preliminary investigations showed that the suspects had formed a gang that specialized in extorting motorists after abandoning their assigned responsibilities.
Sanusi said the command initially declared the officers wanted before arresting the gang leader, whose confession led investigators to the remaining members of the syndicate.
The commissioner reiterated that the Inspector-General of Police has prohibited the indiscriminate search of citizens’ mobile phones during patrols. He urged residents to reject unlawful demands from officers, promptly report cases of extortion and misconduct, and make use of the police emergency lines to report any abuse of authority.
The FCT Police Command assured the public that disciplinary measures and appropriate legal action would be taken against officers found guilty of misconduct, reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, accountability, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
