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Four policemen are facing trial and possible dismissal after they allegedly set up an illegal checkpoint in Abuja and extorted N53,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu (SAN).

The Commissioner of Police (CP) for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the incident on Monday while parading suspects at the FCT Police Command headquarters.

Sanusi said the four officers abandoned their official duty posts and gathered at an unauthorised checkpoint around the Wuse-Banex area, where they extorted money from unsuspecting motorists.

According to him, the officers did not know that one of the motorists they stopped was the ICPC chairman.

He explained that the policemen forced Aliyu to look for money before taking him to a Point of Sale (POS) operator, where N53,000, including transaction charges, was withdrawn and shared among them.

“They extorted the Chairman of the ICPC of N53,000. He calmly cooperated with them, arranged for someone to transfer the money, and they took him to a POS terminal where the cash was withdrawn and shared among themselves,” Sanusi said.

The police commissioner said the ICPC chairman later reported the incident, prompting an intelligence-led operation that led to the arrest of the gang leader and the other members of the group.

“We declared them wanted, arrested their leader, and during interrogation he confessed and identified the others. We tracked down and arrested the remaining members of the gang,” he added.

Sanusi condemned the officers’ actions, warning that the command would no longer tolerate personnel who abuse the powers entrusted to them.

“You have to choose to be one: either a policeman or a thief. You cannot be both at the same time. If you fail to choose, your actions will determine where you belong,” he said.

The CP also reminded officers of the Inspector-General of Police’s directive banning the indiscriminate search of citizens’ mobile phones.

He said no police officer has the right to stop people on the road and demand access to their phones over suspicions of cybercrime or internet fraud.

“A phone can only be searched as part of lawful investigation after a suspect has been arrested for a specific offence and brought to the police station. No officer should search phones on the road,” he said.

Sanusi urged residents to reject illegal demands from police officers and report such incidents immediately through the command’s emergency lines.

The police commissioner also gave updates on other security operations carried out by the command.

He said operatives foiled a kidnap attempt in Gawuraka along the Niger-FCT border and rescued a female kidnap victim who had been abducted in Karshi. A pistol, dagger, military camouflage and assorted charms were recovered during the operation.

Sanusi also announced the arrest of Umaru Danda, who was described as a major supplier of logistics to kidnappers operating around Mpape.

According to him, the suspect supplied hard drugs and other items to criminal gangs. His arrest led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, large quantities of tramadol, suspected cocaine, cannabis, cash, ATM cards and other exhibits from three hideouts in Niger State.

The command also arrested four suspects accused of hijacking Bolt and Uber vehicles after posing as passengers. The suspects — Ibrahim Ismail, Ahmad Umar, Riskwa Shehu and Umar Abubakar — were arrested with two stolen vehicles, a Toyota RAV4 and a Honda Civic.

In another operation, police arrested three suspected “one-chance” robbers after a chase along the Life Camp-Gwarinpa underpass. Officers recovered a knife, scissors, screwdriver, rope, mobile phones, a wig and suspected cannabis from them.

Sanusi further disclosed that operatives arrested suspected armed robbers following a distress call from Nyanya, where five armed men allegedly attacked a resident after breaking into the premises through the perimeter fence.

One suspect was arrested after investigators followed a trail of blood to his hideout, while another suspect and a chemist accused of treating the injured fleeing suspect were later arrested.

Recovered items included a toy gun, machetes, a military belt, counterfeit currency, jewellery, identity cards and assorted charms.

Sanusi said all the suspects would be charged in court after investigations are completed.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professionalism, discipline and intelligence-led policing.

“The successes recorded are largely due to information from patriotic residents. We urge members of the public to continue supporting the police because security is a collective responsibility,” he said.