Police Investigate Extortion Of Netherland Bound Nigerian By Cops In Lagos
The Police Complaints Response Unit has commenced investigation into alleged extortion of a Netherland bound Nigerian, identified as Femi on Twitter, after he tweeted about his encounter with some police officers who demanded N100,000 bribe before releasing him to catch his flight.
Femi, a software engineer, accused the operatives of robbing him of N100,000 simply because he was carrying two laptops in his bag.
Advertisement
He shared his experience through his Twitter page @3eyedpixel on Wednesday, alleging that the officers asked him for N500,000 or they would take him to their station because they knew he had a flight to catch.
He was compelled to bargain with them in order not to miss his flight, knowing how the police operate.
He claimed his travail started after the police stopped him and his wife during a Bolt ride for not wearing face mask.
He said: “They proceeded to check my luggage, then asked what I was doing with two laptops. I explained that one was my personal computer and the other was official. They demanded to see my company ID, and I further explained my company does not issue ID since it’s almost irrelevant
Advertisement
“However, I showed them my NL residential permit as a proof that I live and work over there. It was at this point that they stopped talking and got into the Bolt ride with me. Then two others got into their rickety korope bus and we followed.
“After about 300m, we drove into a street opposite Ajao Estate junction and drove for about 150m. All while asking me to pay 500k. I told them I needed to catch a flight but my words fell on deaf ears. They kept yelling and at a point stopped my ride and asked me to get…”
Reacting to the allegation, the police complaint unit demanded the name of the police station the officers are attached to, and evidence of the transaction, even though, he (Femi) had earlier shared a screenshot of the transactions.
Despite assurances from the federal government to halt the issue of extortion by police officers across the country, Nigerians are still daily subjected to police harassment and extortion
