Anambra Police Under Fire for Allegedly Extorting N1.2 million from Chukwumeka Odumegwu University Students
Anambra Police Anti-cult squad accused of extorting N1.2m from university students, sparking outrage and demands for justice from civil rights groups.
Mary Nwaeze 
In a disturbing development, the Anambra State Police Anti-Cult Squad has come under fire for allegedly detaining and extorting a whopping sum of N1.2 million from 30 students of Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. The incident, which occurred on March 11, 2024, has sparked outrage and demands for justice from various quarters.
According to reports, the students were subjected to a terrifying ordeal in the early hours of the morning when masked men, believed to be personnel from the Obosi Anti-Cult Squad, raided the AGMAC Hostel of the university's Igbariam Campus. The masked men reportedly unleashed physical and mental torture on the students before carting them away in buses.
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The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has raised alarm over the incident, accusing the police of unlawful behavior and demanding immediate action. In a petition addressed to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, Intersociety called for the refund of the extorted money and the punishment of the erring policemen.
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The petition revealed that the abducted students were forced to pay varying amounts, ranging from N40,000 to N70,000 each, for their release. Shockingly, the total amount extorted is estimated to be over N1.2 million.
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Intersociety's investigation further uncovered that such raids on university hostels by the Police Anti-Cult Units have become avenues for unchecked extortion and misconduct. The group urged the police authorities to overhaul and refocus the Anti-Cult Units to ensure law enforcement operations are evidence-based and conducted with respect for human rights.
The brazen violation of the students' rights and the gross misconduct exhibited by the police have drawn widespread condemnation. Calls for accountability and justice have intensified as stakeholders demand swift action to address police brutality and extortion in Anambra State.
