A Port Harcourt resident and media personality, Comrade Phils, has raised concerns over alleged extortion by a team of police officers operating around the Old GRA area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a statement addressed to the Nigeria Police Force, Comrade Phils accused a group of officers attached to the Old GRA Police Station of extorting motorists, particularly owners of private vehicles with tinted windows.
According to him, the team is allegedly led by an officer identified as ASP Omomefe Akin Geoffrey and operates near the residence of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Old GRA.
Phils claimed that the officers routinely stop motorists with tinted vehicles and refuse to recognize valid tinted-glass permits.
“They target private cars with tinted windshields and do not honour the new tinted permit. They claim that the Rivers State Commissioner of Police has banned the use of tinted cars in the state, including factory-fitted tinted vehicles with permits,” he alleged.
He further alleged that motorists are threatened with the detention of their vehicles unless they pay large sums of money.
“They would threaten to detain your car until you part with money. Their rates start from N100,000,” he said.
The media personality also claimed that the officers insist on cash payments and allegedly direct victims to a Point-of-Sale operator located opposite the police station to withdraw money.
“They do not accept transfers. They have a POS girl right opposite the police station where they direct you to go and collect cash for them,” he alleged.
Comrade Phils further claimed that the officers boast that their activities are known to both the Divisional Police Officer of the Old GRA Police Station and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police.
“They boast that the DPO of the Old GRA Police Station and the Rivers State CP are aware of their operations,” he stated.
He disclosed that he possesses video evidence of the alleged extortion and vowed to release the footage in phases.
“I have video evidence of their extortions and will make them public in sequences,” he said.
Calling for urgent intervention, Phils urged authorities to investigate the allegations, noting that the reputation of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police could be damaged by the actions of the officers if the claims are left unaddressed.
The Rivers State Police Command has not yet responded to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.
