Officers and men of the Delta State Police Command have been charged to shape up, as acts of incivility, abuse of office, extortion, or violation of human rights will not be tolerated.
This is even as the command has removed Joseph Udoh, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the GRA Police Station in Asaba, Delta State, in response to a public outcry over allegations that Mr Udoh, a chief superintendent of police, allegedly intimidated and extorted a citizen who helped a dying stranger.
How it happened
Although the alleged intimidation and extortion occurred in early 2025, the public outcry against it gained traction after the victim, Tomi Wojuola, shared his ordeal on Facebook on 31 December 2025.
Mr Wojuola, in the post, detailed how he was detained by the police on the allegation of murder after the stranger he took to a hospital later died.
He also narrated how he was threatened by Mr Udoh and other officers who allegedly “emptied” his bank account before releasing him on bail.
Law & Society Magazine earlier reported that, upon sharing his ordeal on Saturday, the Police Complaint Response Unit confirmed that Mr Udoh has been summoned for questioning.
‘Removed and sanctioned’
Reacting in a post on his X handle on Saturday evening, the police spokesperson in Delta State, Bright Edafe, announced that the DPO has now been “removed” and sanctioned.
“The guy (Wojuola) has since been contacted, the DPO removed and sanctioned, and the money refunded,” Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, wrote.
The police spokesperson did not provide details of the sanction imposed on the DPO and the refunded amount that was allegedly taken from the victim’s account by the officers.
Police brutality and extortion in Nigeria
Cases of police brutality, extortion and other unprofessional activities in Nigeria have continued despite sanctions by police authorities, such as dismissal from service.
In 2024, for instance, the police in Imo State ordered an orderly room trial of four officers seen in a viral video clip extorting motorists in the state.
In August of the same year, police operatives in Bayelsa State extorted N3 million from a Nigerian man at gunpoint the same year.
The officers were subsequently arrested after the victim petitioned the police authorities.
The police operatives later returned the N3 million to the victim, about three weeks later.
In his charge, while briefing newsmen in Asaba on Monday, the new Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, assured them of a purposeful leadership and a fair command, stressing the need for discipline, professionalism, loyalty to duty, and respect for the uniform at all times.
The 23rd police boss in the state called on residents to continue to support the Police by providing credible and useful information that would assist in preventing and detecting crime.
“If you see something, say something responsibly and through appropriate channels,” he said.
Emphasising that security is a collective responsibility, Adesola, who began his career in the Police Force at Ogwashi-Uku after passing out from the Police Academy and later served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations in the state, noted that effective policing thrives on trust, cooperation, and timely information from the public.
CP Adesola appreciated his predecessor, AIG Olufemi Abaniwonda, for his leadership, dedication, and service to the Command, adding that he left behind institutional structures and operational foundations upon which the Command would continue to build.
He reassured the people of the state that the Command under his leadership would consolidate on existing gains while adopting a professional, intelligence-driven, and people-centred approach to policing, with strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights.
According to him, the Command would work closely with sister security agencies, the Delta State Government, traditional institutions, community leaders, and other stakeholders to address criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, community conflicts, and other forms of criminality, within the confines of the law and in line with national policing standards.
He also expressed appreciation to the Delta State Government for its consistent support of the Police Command.
