The Police Command in Lagos state on Saturday admitted that Point of Sales (POS) operators were being used by corrupt police officers to extort the public, warning operators around police stations to beware and not allow themselves to be used for such evil.

The warned POS operators against using their trade to promote extortion at police stations and other areas. The warning is coming on the heels of a fresh push by the police authorities to rid the force of corruption.

Investigations have shown that some itinerant POS operators move from one police formation to another looking for persons under pressure to bribe the police or accede to extortion overtures of corrupt officers.

The Command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, gave the warning in his Twitter handle, monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Hundeyin said the warning was part of directives from the Force headquarters, Abuja, against extortion and corruption in some police formations.

“It has been observed over time that some roving POS operators specialise in hanging around police stations. Investigations reveal that their target customers are innocent Nigerians being extorted by some recalcitrant police officers.

“Their presence around the stations has made the extortion game a lot easier.

“While the Force continually purges itself of these bad officers, it has become imperative that the activities of POS operators around police stations be regulated.

“Some of them have been identified to be enablers of extortion. This regulation is in line with our mandate of not just detecting, but also preventing crime,” he noted.

Hundeyin warned that POS operators found to have knowingly enabled extortion with the police in any areas would be treated as an accomplice.

Unconfirmed sources have told NAN that some POS operators were arrested near some police stations in Lagos, but were released after warning to keep away by some DPOs.

Additional report by NAN