A motorist in Abuja has accused officers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command of assaulting him and extorting N350,000 under the pretense of enforcing third-party insurance regulations. The incident reportedly occurred along Arab Road, where officers from the Kubwa Phase 4 Police Station stopped him.
Despite presenting valid vehicle documents, the officers allegedly ignored them and insisted that he follow them to the station. According to the victim, once at the station, he was treated like a criminal and pressured to pay N1.5 million before they eventually agreed to collect N650,000.
The motorist, whose name was withheld for safety reasons, stated that at the police station, he was forced to transfer N350,000 through a Point of Sale (POS) operator identified as Joshua Ayokunle Agboola. He was told to bring the remaining N300,000 on Monday.
“On Friday evening, policemen from Kubwa police stopped me on Arab Road while enforcing third-party insurance rules. They didn’t even check my vehicle papers,” he explained. “At the station, they tried to detain me without telling me my offense. They demanded N1.5 million but later agreed to collect N650,000. They then called a POS agent near the Kubwa Area Command and collected N350,000, asking me to bring the balance later.”
Cases of police officers extorting motorists under the guise of vehicle inspections have been on the rise in Nigeria. Many drivers have reported similar experiences, often involving forceful demands for money, illegal detentions, and threats.
The Nigerian Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. However, civil rights activists have called for an independent investigation into the case, urging authorities to take action against officers involved in extortion and misconduct.
With growing concerns over police accountability, many Nigerians are demanding stricter measures to prevent law enforcement officers from abusing their power. More updates on this case are expected as investigations unfold.
