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Friday, April 3, 2026

Police say ₦1.4 million Anambra officers extorted from innocent civilians refunded

According to Mr Gwamnishu, the Complaint Response Unit from the Office of the Inspector General of Police, were on Thursday, in Awka to ensure the victims got justice.

• April 3, 2026
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The police command in Anambra says it has refunded ₦1.4 million allegedly extorted from four victims after some officers of the Anti-Cultism Unit in Enugwu-Ukwu, involved were summoned to the police headquarters in Abuja.

Head of the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation, Harrison Gwamnishu, in a statement on Thursday, said the errant officers unlawful arrested, tortured, detained them to confess to being secret cultists, and forced them to transfer the money into an account the officers provided.

Mr Gwamnishu wrote, “Following my post of 29th March, 2026, officers of the Anti-Cultism Unit in Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra police command have refunded the sum of one million, four hundred and eighty-five thousand naira (₦1,485,000) criminally extorted. 

“The officers involved in the unlawful arrest, torture, and detention of the following individuals have now been identified. Mr Makuachukwu Emmanuel Agu, Mr Chukwuebuka David, Mr Daberechi Vitalis Njoku, and Mr. Tochukwu Joshua were arrested and tortured to confess of being members of a secret cult and forced them to transfer the money into an account the officers provided.”

According to Mr Gwamnishu, the Complaint Response Unit from the Office of the Inspector General of Police, were on Thursday, in Awka to ensure the victims got justice.

Head of the CRU, Aniete Okokon Iniedu, had in an X post on Wednesday, said the police commissioner, Ikioye Orutugu, was asked to provide the errant officers at the Force headquarters, after 

“UPDATE: The Unit has commenced investigation. A signal has been sent. The esteemed CP @policeAnambraNG formally informed to produce the OC & team at the FHQ, Abuja. Kindly remain calm as justice is assured. @tony_placid @TunjiDisu1 @HarrisonBbi18 @AnambraPolice #bailisfree,” Mr Iniedu wrote.

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