By Zik Gbemre,
It is imperative to call the DPO and his patrol team at the Otu-Jeremi Police Divisional Office in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State to order and stop their growing indulgence in extortion of members of the public.
The DPO and his patrol team are so blinded by the lure of extortion on motorists and commuters in Ughelli South to the point of compromising the protection of critical national assets, particularly oil and gas assets in their sphere of operations.
This public misconduct was displayed on Saturday 8th June 2024 in an encounter with Amos Okpobe, a pipeline surveillance supervisor of Unuigho & Sons (owned by David Upaka) on OML 34 assets and military guards partnering on the security with men of the Otu-Jeremi Division.
At about 8 am on that fateful day, the Otu-Jeremi Police Divisional patrol team checkpoint mounted at Iwhrekan Town near Otu-Jeremi Junction arrested Amos Okpobe and a driver carrying him and a tricycle truck’s driver carrying a small locally made wooden canoe.
The small wooden canoe was being transported to the Otor-Edo waterside to be used by soldiers and surveillance guards to patrol the riverside of the Otor-Edo pipeline.
The Police from the Otu-Jeremi police station arrested the surveillance supervisor, the canoe, and the driver conveying them and took them to the Otu-Jeremi Divisional Station.
The Police insisted they must be paid N20,000, if not they will not release them with the small wooden canoe. It took the intervention of the DSS Officer in Ughelli South before they were released at 4:30 pm on 8th June 2024.
The CP Delta state should call the new DPO of Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South LGA, and his patrol team to order. Police extortion on motorists and tricyclists has increased in recent times in the area. They should be called to order.
Supposing the soldiers attached to Utorogu oil & gas assets in OML 34 reacted to the situation there would have been serious blood issues.
The Nigerian Police especially officers at the Otu-Jeremi Police Division should work according to the law to safeguard the people and not by using their uniforms and guns to be extorting motorists and tricycle riders.
The new DPO at Otu-Jeremi should be warned to stay away from harassing motorists and law-abiding citizens. The wooden canoes seized by them are used by soldiers and surveillance guards to protect oil & gas facilities which generate revenue that they use to pay salaries of police officers.
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