Ejeh Ochenehi (not real name), a student of Benue State University, Makurdi, stepped out of his house at about 10:50 pm on February 26 to fetch his clothes off the clothesline when policemen ambushed him.

In their numbers — no fewer than six — they surrounded the young man and brandished guns.

Soon, he was in the back of what he remembers to be a black Toyota Hilux van with ‘POLICE’ inscribed on it. They drove him away for some minutes and forced him to transfer N45,000 to a PoS merchant before letting him go.

Obekah (not real name), his brother, told FIJ Ejeh called him that fateful night before the arrest. They spoke and he heard when the policemen came for him, but the phone call ended.

“He said they were demanding he gave them N400,000 before they released him, but he was pleading with them to accept N50,000,” Obekah told FIJ.

“After the call, we couldn’t reach him again until the next morning. He said they released him after taking him around the town without taking him to any station. They collected his money and they were even beating him.”

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He said the police drove to a PoS merchant, had him withdraw N45,000 at about 11:29 pm, collected the cash and then drove off.

When FIJ spoke with Ejeh on Friday. He expressed fear and apprehension towards the police.

Ejeh said he was worried they could return or come after him for speaking about the incident. This fear was highlighted by the fact that they never took him to their station, so he did not know where they came from.

FIJ called Christine Anene, spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, and she promised to investigate the matter if the complainants reached her. Ejeh and Obekah said they would visit Anene’s office to file an official complaint.

Daniel Ojukwu is a reporter with FIJ in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.