Extortion: UPU Youthwing President Retrieves N1M From Police Officers, Returns Money To Victim

By Daniel Dafe
The leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Youthwing, Worldwide, Comrade Efemena Umukoro, has successfully retrieved the sum of N1m of the N1.5m forcefully collected by the IGP Special Tactical Squad (STS) from a youth in Warri and presented the said sum to the mother of the victim, Mrs. Beatrice Anidi.
The President of the youth body, Umukoro, who expressed displeasure over the extortion of Urhobo youths by some security operatives, narrated the circumstances surrounding the extortion of one Mr. Marvelous.
He said: “I recently received a call from an Urhobo youth that I have never met before that a Special Tactical Squad (STS) from Abuja headed by one SP Ali Sunday came to do their normal investigating activities in Warri and instead of proceeding back to Abuja, they decided to use the opportunity to harass, intimidate and brutalise our youths,” adding that they also illegally detained him (Marvelous).
He continued: “Marvelous who is legally employed and a business man was arrested and an allegation leveled on him that the car he was using is a stolen vehicle.
“Mr. Marvelous was able to prove his case beyond every reasonable doubt and since they saw no fault, they decided to question his source of income. In Nigeria, no one asks you how come you are poor, but when you become rich they start investigating you. It is only when we start appreciating hardwork and devalue mediocrity that we will strive as a nation.
“After all said and done, he was held back from his family and even his legal representative for three days. The family of Marvelous was in serious fear. The tension was high. They needed their son to be released. Against all odds, they had to part with 1.5 million naira to the same persons who ought to protect lives and property.
“Immediately I got this call and understood that they were from STS Abuja, I immediately placed a call to the Force Headquarters, Abuja to give my complaint. I spoke to some senior officers at the Force Headquarters and they also helped to retrieve the money. Within few hours I was contacted by the same SP Ali Sunday who I believe with all our conversation is the brain behind the extortion, intimidation, harassment and illegal detention of our people in Delta Central.
“He pleaded with me that this case should be killed and not rise again. I told him to check my antecedents and that it is either they refund the money or we shut down Delta Central.
“All of a sudden, I started getting calls from Abuja. The Force Headquarters and State Command also called. The next day, I had a meeting with a police delegation in Abraka with lots of student unions’ members and activists present.
“After the deliberations, the police accepted their mistakes and said they were bringing back 1 Million Naira and promised to bring the other five hundred thousand naira on a later date.
“I have not met Marvelous before, but we have said that people within our territorial borders must be defended. The UPU youthwing administration under me is one that has come to defend Urhobo people from harassment.”
“1 million naira was presented to me as directed by Ali Sunday. We believe that his presence in Delta State has been a nightmare to our youths and his continuous stay in Delta Central will result to us occupying all federal roads in Delta Central.
“I want to also place on record that when members of the army attacked the STS, I was the only human right activist that fought for the right of the police. But for me now to come out and speak against them, it shows that our people have gone through hell. Ali goes as far as mounting road blocks on the roads to farms to extort our mothers on their way to the reserve to get cassava to produce garri.
“We call on the police authority to remove Ali Sunday from Delta State.”
Continuing, he disclosed that the 500-man protest planned to show their grievance over the development has also been called off.
Receiving the money from the youth leader in Abraka, the mother of the victim, Mrs. Anidi appreciated the youth president, human rights group and everyone that made it possible for the money to be returned.
She added: “You people don’t know me but you stood and fought for us.”
While praying for God’s promotion and favour on them, she urged the UPU youthwing and others involved in defending the rights of others to continue their good work, stressing that they must not deviate from such acts.
Present during the presentation of the money to Mrs. Anidi were representatives of the National Association of Nigeria Student Joint Campus Committee (NANS JCC), DELSU SUG President, human rights groups and a host of others.