The zone 16 command of the Nigerian police force has ordered the arrest and investigation of four personnel involved in alleged abduction and extortion of N20million 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 Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa and one 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 last Monday, who are indigenes of Bayelsa state but came in from Ghana, and “arrested” them with blind fold 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 do not part with N50million.The boys later succumbed and agreed to part with N20million. They took them to GTB and Access Bank and made two separate transfers of N7m and N13m.”
The most senior among the accused personnel is a Police Inspector.
While a report claimed that the accused police personnel later offered their victim friendship and protection in Yenagoa and exchanged numbers, others claimed the accused policemen asked for another 10million 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 Nigerian police headquarters number advertised and it attracted the attention of police top henchelon.
Preliminary investigations showed that the AIG zone 16, Benjamin Okolo, was reported to have ordered the arrest of the accused personnel and additional facts revealed that the accused personal action was without the knowledge of their superior officers.
“They were not members of a team. They work at various units but do shaddy 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 road block to extort oil bunkerers.”
Already, the accused police personnel have returned the N2.5million they each made from the Yahoo boys extortion deal, while Eyi Mattthew Excel is reported to have returned his share of the deal but still at large,” the Mayor was arrested and granted bail but he has abscorded.”
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer, Zone 16, Mrs. Ikwo Kevin, said some fraudsters known as Yahoo boys defrauded some foreigners of a sum of twenty eight thousand dollars, which they went after them and got them arrested.
The fraudsters confessed to the crime and pleaded for liniency but instead of the officers to do the needful they compromised by collecting monies from them, so when the AIG got wind of the matter, he ordered for their arrest and detention.
“Information we got was that the police got 10 million while the informant also got 10 million of his own share, but has eventually returned 7.5 million from his hideout and still on the run.
The monies they got were also recovered, while investigation is still ongoing.
