Barely a few weeks after the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun issued a directive prohibiting arbitrary arrests, harassment of youths, and the checking of mobile phones by police officers nationwide, a student from Ekiti State University (EKSU) called out the Nigerian Police for allegedly extorting N150,000 from him and his friends.
According to a post by the student, who did not disclose his name, he and his friends were stopped by a group of armed police officers at Ojota, Lagos, at different checkpoints. One of the officers at one of the checkpoints allegedly demanded N200,000 from him for having cryptocurrency mobile applications on his phone.
The student wrote: “I am a student of Ekiti State University, living in Lagos, Nigeria.
“At exactly 11:23 AM today, my friend and I were assaulted by the Nigerian Police Force at Ojota, Lagos. I had been hearing and seeing about police brutality on social media, but I never prayed for a day like this. We were coming from Alakuko and had ordered an InDrive to Ebutte, Ikorodu. We got stopped at Ojota by the first group of armed police. They asked us to get out of the vehicle and then searched my phone. I opened it for them, knowing fully well that I had nothing incriminating on my phone. They asked what I do, and I told them I’m a student. They asked me to open my portal, which I did, and showed them my school ID. After not finding anything on my phone, they told us we could go.
“On our way, less than one minute after we passed the first group, we encountered another set of armed police—about 10 of them. They stopped us and asked the same questions: what do I do, and am I involved in fraudulent activities? I respectfully answered that I wasn’t.
“They asked to search my phone, and I complied, opening my portal. One of them snatched my phone from me and began searching it. He saw trading apps and trading groups on my WhatsApp. He then became agitated, claiming I was involved in cryptocurrency, which he said is illegal in Nigeria, and demanded that I follow them to the station.
“They told the Uber driver to leave. I said I hadn’t paid him yet, and then they took my friend and me into their vehicle, a fully tinted Sienna. I was assaulted there, as they insisted we had to go to the station where we would be investigated by their superior. I became frightened, having heard of police brutality, but never believing I would be a victim. They then told me that I had to pay N200,000 if I wanted to go home without being taken to the station.
“I was scared and told them that I didn’t have that amount because I’m a student. They then took me to a POS merchant and ordered that I send N150,000 to the POS merchant. I have the receipt and the POS account number. I was brutalized and forced to send money that was meant to be used for my school fees. Please, help me. I don’t want to be assaulted in vain.”
In response to the post, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, directed various units under the Lagos Police Command, including the spokesperson, to identify and investigate the officers involved.
He wrote: “SP Benjamin Hundeyin, take up this case and fish out the officers involved as urgently as possible. Checking people’s phones by police operatives on the road is not allowed, and the Force has condemned such actions. We need to act on complaints like this. I urge him to reach out and connect with Benjamin or any of our helplines.”
(Vanguard)