While the Police often urge Nigerians to report criminal activities or suspected criminals in order to reduce the spate of insecurity in the country, citizens are giving accounts of how innocent people became victims of arrest and extortion for reporting crimes. 

Narrating how a woman who reported a suspicious situation to the Police was arrested and made to pay a bribe before she was released, Oluyemi Fasipe identified the fear of being taken as a culprit and extorted as the reason people do not divulge security information to security agencies.

“A woman realised that a terrible smell was coming out of her tenant’s room, locked from inside. She went to report at a police station in Akure. The Police broke into the room and found the corpse of the neighbour on the bed. They arrested her and estorted N80,000 from her,” wrote Fasipe.

“Do you have any idea how many lives we have lost to this particular situation?”

Sharing a similar experience, Gwon Olugbenga stated that his uncle was not only detained when he reported a stolen vehicle which was brought to him to purchase, he was made to pay N150,000 for his release.

“Years ago, my dad reported at the police station that fuel was coming out of our well. Police arrested him and charged him with economic sabotage. At midnight, they came with jerrycans and a yellow bus to scoop or fetch the fuel,” @Nattychemical wrote.

Although Adeniran Aremu, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Police does not agree that some police officers arrest people who report crimes, he said that persons who got backlash for reporting crimes should inform superior police officers.

“You can go to the area command and explain to the area commander and if you still do not get justice there, you can move to the State Command and meet the Commissioner of Police. He can seek the transfer of your case to the State CID.”