Published 11th May, 2023

By Daniel Ojukwu

David Kolawole (not real name), a Lagos resident, has narrated to FIJ how policemen in the Berger area of Lagos State extorted ₦5,000 from him on Friday.

Kolawole told FIJ he was driving from the Ojodu area and heading towards OPIC when policemen stopped his vehicle.

He said they accused him of running a red light but he was sure it was green when he went past it, and had only turned amber seconds after he drove past.

“They asked why I ran the light, and I told them it was green when I moved, and not when it was red,” Kolawole told FIJ. “They got into my car and asked that we proceed to the station.”

The policemen did not take him to any station though. He said they ordered him to park the vehicle, and demanded ₦75,000 in exchange for his freedom.

“I told them I couldn’t give them such, and then two policemen in mufti came over and started yelling about how they would impound my car. They ended up saying I should give them whatever I had.

“They took ₦5,000 from me in the end. First, they asked for cash, but I insisted on transfer, so they took me to a Point of Sale (POS) agent to transfer and collect cash.”

Kolawole's transfer receipt to Police — Kolawole’s transfer receipt

Kolawole said he was able to read the name tag of one of the officers. His name was Emeka Michael.

Similarly, Olumide Arowosegbe, another Lagos resident, narrated to FIJ how on April 21, policemen in Berger forced him into a minibus and harassed him moments after.

Arowosegbe said, “I was there to collect a tablet meant for kids, and a laptop which belongs to my uncle’s children. He sent them to me, so I went to Berger to pick them.

“After obtaining the package from a driver arriving from Ilorin, an unidentified man forcibly grabbed the package from me and demanded to see its contents, showing his ID card to be a police officer. I explained that it contained a phone and laptop sent to me by my uncle, but he demanded I follow him so he could inspect the contents. I refused and told him to check in the open space where everyone could see.

“Suddenly, another man appeared, and both of them forced me into a public bus popularly called Korope, where an officer in uniform with a gun was seated. The bus driver was also present in plain clothes and was likely a victim of illegal arrest who was forced to participate in their unlawful activities.

“They demanded to see the receipt for the package, which was inside it. I had to call my uncle who confirmed that he had sent it to me and that the receipts were in the package.”

Arowosegbe said the policemen checked the receipt of the tablet but did not see that of the laptop. They began assaulting him afterwards.

“Throughout the ordeal, I was sweating profusely and seated at the back of the mini-bus with the officer in uniform holding an AK-47 rifle,” he continued. “I requested to step outside for fresh air, but the officer refused, accusing me of being rude and attempting to flee. My uncle called repeatedly to check on my safety, but the officers refused to speak with him after a while.

“After some time, they brought two young men into the bus, seized their phones and searched their belongings. One of the boys said his dad bought the phone for him and they asked what their parents’ occupation was to have been able to afford buying such devices for them.

“Eventually, the officers decided to release me but also insisted I thank them for doing so. The officer with the gun verbally harassed and insulted me, accusing me of being in possession of stolen goods even though I had provided the available receipt while they spoke with my uncle who sent them.”

FIJ called Benjamin Hundeyin, public relations officer of the Lagos Police Command, but he did not take our calls. He also did not respond to a text message sent to him.

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.

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