The Lagos State Police Command has initiated an investigation into allegations that four police officers extorted one million naira from three National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members during a stop-and-search operation in the Surulere area of Lagos.
The incident came to light after a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) detailed the alleged extortion.
In a post shared by X user @YemieFash, the officers were reportedly involved in the extortion during a routine stop-and-search, where they demanded over one million naira from the corps members.
The user accused the officers of threatening the corps members with firearms and forcibly taking them to the Kafaru Oluwole Tinubu House Area C Police Command in Surulere, where the money was allegedly extorted.
The post stated, “Your officers today in Surulere extorted 1 million naira from 3 corps members. They were threatened with firearms, kidnapped, and taken to the Kafaru Oluwole Tinubu House Area C Police Command of the @LagosPoliceNG where they were robbed. Their offence was the absence of a physical copy of a driver’s license. This is evil!”
The user further claimed that an officer in plainclothes was the one who collected the money from the victims. A transaction receipt showing the debited amount was attached to the post, adding to the evidence of the alleged extortion.
Police Respond to Allegations
Following the viral post, the Lagos State Police Command quickly responded to the claims. The spokesperson for the Lagos Police Command, Superintendent of Police Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development on his verified X handle. He disclosed that the officers involved had been identified and summoned for an internal investigation.
“The men have been summoned, and their trial has commenced. We urge the complainants to visit the Complaint Response Unit at the State Headquarters to testify at the ongoing trial,” Hundeyin stated.
The police have called on the victims to cooperate with the investigation by providing testimony to ensure justice is served.
Past Incidents of Police Misconduct in Lagos
This case is the latest in a series of similar incidents involving police misconduct in Lagos. Earlier in the year, another X user reported being extorted by officers stationed at the Ketu Bridge.
The individual claimed to have been forced to pay N95,000 during a stop along the Ketu Road, which connects to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Additionally, in June 2024, a police inspector was demoted to the rank of sergeant after attempting to extort money from a drone operator.
The inspector’s actions were captured in a viral video, leading to swift disciplinary action by the Nigeria Police Force.
