By Helen Okechukwu, JKNMedia Reporter
A MENTAL Health Coach, Allison John, is demanding justice from the Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Nigeria Police Command and the State Commission of Police, Tunji Disu, over alleged extortion scheme.
John noted that in a troubling incident that unfolded in Rivers State, he and his assistant found themselves tangled in an extortion scheme orchestrated by individuals claiming affiliation with a disbanded task force, accompanied by a female police officer.
He said the ordeal began when his vehicle experienced a mechanical fault near the East-West Road, Obiri-Ikwere flyover in Port Harcourt. Seizing the opportunity, three individuals emerged from a mini-white bus, purportedly identifying themselves as members of the defunct Rivers State Task Force.
Despite the task force’s disbandment, they demanded that he, John, lower his car window, citing the area’s history of kidnappings. One of the individuals forcefully occupied the driver’s seat, coercing him and his assistant to comply with their demands.
He writes on his X handle, “Compelled by the presence of a female police officer among the perpetrators, I reluctantly obeyed, hoping we would be taken to any of the police stations nearby. But during transit, the extortionists inquired about my origin, exploiting familiar connections in their extortion tactics.
“Demanding an exorbitant sum of N300,000 without specifying any offense committed, the group coerced me and my assistant into withdrawing money. They eventually settled for N200,000, but was only able to get away with N30,000 depleting my assistant’s modest bank account savings while still demanding additional funds.”
It was amidst the coercion that a by-stander intervened, denouncing the extortionists as fraudsters. However, attempts to seek identification from the perpetrators resulted in physical confrontation, leading to the destruction of John’s phone, which was documenting the ordeal.
Consequently, John is petitioning Gov. Fubara, the Nigeria Police Command and Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, for justice so they can help investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book.
This reporter’s efforts to seek clarification from the Rivers State Police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, only yielded requests for video evidence, highlighting the urgency for a thorough investigation.
On the incident, this reporter swiftly contacted the Rivers State Police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko via phone, she responded with “Please send me the video via WhatsApp for me to let me see.” Later, she was contacted via WhatsApp and she also responded with “I need to find out what really transpired, please.”
However, till the publication of this report, SP Grace Iringe-Koko is yet to provide any further feedback regarding the extortion claim incident.
