Police probe alleged N3m extortion attempt by officers in Lagos state

The Lagos State Police Command has launched an investigation into serious allegations of attempted extortion and assault by officers from the Onikan Police Station Tactical Squad.

The investigation follows a public complaint by a resident, Boluwatife, who claims the officers attempted to extort N3 million from him at gunpoint.

In a detailed account shared on social media, Boluwatife alleged the incident occurred around 1 am on Thursday while he and a friend were driving from Lekki to Victoria Island.

He stated that five armed officers stopped them near the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge roundabout, immediately cocked their rifles and accused him of being involved in the killing of police officers in Lekki.

Boluwatife further claimed that he and his friend were handcuffed, put into a police van, and taken to the station, while the officers drove his car away separately.

Boluwatife wrote on X:

“Around 1am, I was heading to VI with a friend of mine in the car from lekki for an activation for my artist #shinettw_, heading towards Lekki – Ikoyi link bridge roundabout some police officers just started cocking their guns as my car was approaching, I panicked!!

“Then I stopped & about 5 of them dragged me out of the car claiming I’m the guy that kills police in lekki & they’ve finally caught me today & were going to deal with me. I was so lost. Literally dragged me out of the driver’s seat, I kept on asking what was going on.

“Next thing I know, they put me in cuffs & bundled me into their hilux, forced me literally into their hilux claiming they’ll deal with me today & I’ll see hell. They pushed my friend into the hilux too & one of them drove my car behind, next thing I know they were taking me away.

“Got to their police station at Onikan & they told me to take off my shirt, my shoes & even my socks saying I’ll sleep in the cell. Meanwhile they searched my car & checked my papers & saw that everything was in check, I had nothing illegal with me!

“Fast forward 2 hours later, they were asking for 3 million naira😂😂, told them I wasn’t going to give them anything then after about another 2 hours they settled for 500k, gave me my phone back so I used that to alert my people. Thank God I was able to reach out for rescue oo.

“They threatened me, told me they’ll forge documents against me that I’m a fraud boy & I was a cultist just cus I refused to give them money. Thank God for #bizzleosikoya‘s help calling their ogas. Who knows what could have happened???

“I’m not even shaken, but what of the common man that has nobody? There’s nothing they didn’t say to me. Even after explaining my background, they even threatened to shoot me multiple times. 10 police officers threatening you for no reason is just wild!”

Reacting to the allegations, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed on X that the police leadership has ordered a full investigation into the matter.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has summoned all the officers to the Command Headquarters in Ikeja and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, to investigate the complaint. The public will be updated on the outcome,” Hundeyin said.