Beer parlour operators in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State have called on the Commissioner of Police, CP Kabir Hassan, to investigate alleged extortion and intimidation by the Divisional Police Officer of Girei, SP Aliyu Adamu.
The operators made the demand during a protest in Sengere on Thursday, alleging that police officers under the Girei Division had shut down their businesses and demanded large sums of money from them.
Some of the operators accused the DPO of closing their shops and compelling them to pay between N40,000 and N100,000 or more without clearly stating the offences they had committed.
One of the operators, Mrs. Agnes Paul, told Arewa Punch that she was summoned to the Girei Police Station through a phone call.
According to her, upon her arrival, the DPO told her that she was required to pay N40,000 for operating a beer parlour.
Paul said she pleaded with the police and the amount was subsequently reduced to N20,000, despite, according to her, no offence being stated against her.
She further alleged that a police officer warned her against taking the matter to court, threatening that she could be detained for months if she reported the matter.
Her husband, who identified himself as Bidemi, an electronic engineer, said he had engaged the services of two lawyers after his wife informed him that she had paid ₦20,000 and was subsequently released.
Other beer parlour operators appealed to CP Kabir Hassan to investigate the allegations against the Girei DPO, warning that failure to address the matter could lead to an escalation of tension and a possible crisis in the area.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Adamawa State Police Command were unsuccessful as the command’s spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, did not respond to phone calls and WhatsApp messages sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
The development comes a month after the DPO of Jambutu Division in Yola North Local Government Area was removed by the Commissioner of Police following a petition by residents over allegations of massive extortion.
