The Delta State Police Command has ordered the summary trial of two officers allegedly caught on video extorting a member of the public within a police facility in Asaba, the state capital.
The officers, Inspector Augustine Jeremiah and Corporal Miracle Ehirim, were directed to face an orderly room trial on Thursday, following the circulation of a viral video showing the alleged misconduct inside the C Division Police Station in Asaba.
The directive was issued by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Yemi Oyeniyi, according to the command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, who disclosed the development in a statement on X.
Edafe said the trial would be concluded the same day, with the outcome made public, describing the incident as “embarrassing” to the force.
“The Delta State commissioner of police has ordered the summary trial of the officers captured in the video. Their orderly trial will be concluded today and the outcome will be made public. Say no to impunity,” he stated.
The controversy followed the emergence of a 3-minute and 28-second video shared by rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, allegedly showing a victim being coerced into transferring ₦51,500 through a Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminal, while a uniformed officer stood by.
The footage, reportedly recorded inside the station, showed the victim holding two mobile phones and completing the transaction under supervision.
A close-up of the device displayed a successful Moniepoint transfer to an account identified as “POS Transfer — Sunday Racheal Kewe.”
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Gwamnishu alleged that PoS operators are routinely stationed within some police stations in the state to facilitate on-the-spot extortion of victims.
He also accused police authorities of tolerating the practice and called for urgent intervention, tagging senior officials, including the inspector-general of police and the Police Complaint Response Unit.
The Police Complaint Response Unit confirmed that the officers had been identified, arrested and detained.
It added that they had been directed to report to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on April 20, for further investigation.
The incident has renewed concerns over entrenched corruption and abuse of power within the police, despite repeated assurances of reforms and accountability mechanisms by authorities.
