CSO Condemns Police Harassment, Intimidation And Extortion of Guests In Hotel Rooms
A civil society group, the Global Support Initiative For Transparency & Social Justice (Gsi-tsj NG) has raised the alarm over what they termed ongoing ceaseless and unwarranted harassment, intimidation, arrest and extortion of cash from guests in their respective Hotels/ Guest House Lodges in Owerri metropolis by police officers under the guise of searching for non-existing criminals.
According to a press release signed by Hon. Ejiogu Charles,TPM, Convener
and Chief Vincent Ossai, Secretary of Global Support Initiative For Transparency & Social Justice (Gsi-tsj NG) respectively and made available on December 26, 2022, the ‘modus operandi’ of the offending police officers “is anchored on storming a designated Hotel/ Guest House in a Gestapo style, inflict thunderous bang on Hotel Room doors, whisk away guests to an unknown destination, slam unfounded allegations of criminality on their victims and demand financial settlement in exchange for their personal freedom.”
Global Support Initiative For Transparency & Social Justice (Gsi-tsj NG) alleges that “So far, these police officers in the course of their clandestine and inhuman operations have not been able to establish a cogent and verifiable case of criminal culpability against their hapless victims, as this illegality takes place in the dark hours of the day.”
“In Imo State, the 3R Shared Prosperity administration of Governor Hope Uzodinma is working round the clock to ensure the security of lives and property of the citizenry, even as the administration has gone the extra mile in reviving/reinvigorating the Tourism and Hospitality sector of the State’s economy through its deliberate policy of growing both the formal and informal sectors by putting in place, critical infrastructure and ensuring zero tolerance against crimes and criminality.”
“We hasten to commend the quick response/ intervention of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations that led to the release of one of the victims a couple of days ago, as he was abducted from one of the Guest Houses within the vicinity of ShopRite on Egbu Road Owerri.
“At Gsi-tsj NG, we view this dangerous trend and heinous tendency as premeditated invasion of privacy of innocent citizens.”
“In our opinion, it’s a monumental disincentive to the growth of Tourism and Hospitality industry in Imo State.
We are also constrained to point out that the likelihood of business closures leading to loss of skilled and unskilled jobs, on account of dwindled patronage arising from incessant harassment and intimidatory antics of some unscrupulous police officers.”
In view of this sordid development, Gsi-tsj NG unequivocally states as follows:
1) That the Police authority in Abuja should through its internal intelligence gathering mechanism, undertake detailed investigation without further delay.
2) That the Zone 9 Command Headquarters should also undertake it’s fact finding arrangements, independent of measures embarked on by Abuja.
3) As we commend the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police ( Operations) for it’s good work of coming to the rescue of a recent victim, we demand a collaborative effort with the Area Commander and Divisional Police Officer in order to sensitize the” Rank and File” on the need to bring to an immediate end , this harassment, intimidation and corruption laden extortion of Hotel Guests and its criminal implications on the part of the Police.
4) We take this opportunity to appeal to police officers to live up to the true meaning of their professional calling by convincing the citizenry that ” Police Is Truly Their Friend ”
