Police probe alleged N3m extortion attempt on officers

The Lagos State Police Command on Friday disclosed that the command has begun investigating a case of alleged attempted extortion of its officers at gunpoint.

The command began the investigation, after an X user, Boluwatife, with the handle @Tife_badass shared details of how police officers from Onikan Police Station Tactical Squad attempted to extort him at gunpoint.

He said that the officers apprehended him and his friend at about 1:00 a.m., on Thursday along Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge and, allegedly accused him of murder.

“The officers started cocking their guns as my car was approaching, I panicked and I stopped.

“About five of them dragged me out of the car claiming I am the guy had killed policeman in Lekki and they have finally caught me, I was so lost.

“They put me in cuffs and bundled me into their hilux, claiming they will deal with me; they pushed my friend into the hilux too, while one of them drove my car behind.

“Got to their station at Onikan, they told me to take off my shirt, my shoes and even my socks, saying I will sleep in the cell.

“Meanwhile they searched my car and checked my papers and saw that everything was in order, and I had nothing illegal with me, ” he said.

@Tife_badasshe said said that the officers eventually allegedly demanded N3 million and started threatening him because he refused to give them a dime.

“I told them I was not going to give them anything, after about another two hours they settled for N500,000.

“They threatened to shoot me multiple times, threatened to forge document against me that I am fraudulent, and a cultist just because I refused to give them money.

“When they gave me back my phone, I used that to alert my people, ” Boluwatife said.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on his X handle @benHundeyin, indicated that the command had ordered a full investigation into the matter.

According to the PPRO, all the officers have been summoned.

“The state Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has summoned all the officers to the command headquarters in Ikeja and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, to investigate the complaint.

“The public will be updated on the outcome,” the PPRO said. (NAN)