The Nigeria Police on Tuesday said it has sanctioned 17 of its officers and returned the sum of N834,000 extorted by them from members of the public between July and September this year.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Jimoh Ibrahim, the Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO) and released by the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) of the force.

According to the statement, the  sanctioned officers include an Assistant Superintendent of Police in Ikorodu, Lagos State who was suspended for corrupt practices.

“In the pursuit of implementing the ‘Change Begins With Me’ campaign of the Federal Government and in line with the desire of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, in bringing an end to impunity, the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit in Q3 2017 recovered and returned a total sum of ₦834,000 extorted money to members of the public.

“Sixteen police officers were also sanctioned for various acts of professional misconduct during the period under review.

The Police Service Commission equally approved the suspension from service of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Bayo Obadiah attached to Area Command Ikorodu, Lagos over corrupt practices,” the statement read in part.

The statement said a total of 764 complaints were received by the force during the period. The Police further claimed that within this period, it arrested two terror suspects in Akoko area of Ondo State and recovered the sum of ₦100,000 extorted by the suspects from a woman in Kano State in the process.