Police Probe ₦20,000 Extortion By Officers Caught On Dispatch Rider’s Hidden Camera

The Lagos State Police Command has commenced an investigation into an alleged extortion involving a dispatch rider who claimed he paid ₦20,000 to police officers attached to the Makinde Divisional Headquarters.

The Command disclosed this in a statement on Monday, following the circulation of a video of the incident on social media.

The officers were unaware the unnamed rider was recording with a hidden camera before the stop and the alleged extortion, our correspondent reports from the video shared.

“The Lagos State Police Command is aware of the video and has commenced an investigation into the incident,” the statement read.

The Command identified the officers involved as personnel attached to the Makinde Divisional Headquarters, adding that they had reported at its headquarters for questioning.

“In line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, psc, mnips, the officers involved have reported at the Command Headquarters and are currently being interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation,” it said.

The dispatch rider reportedly alleged that the officers extorted ₦20,000 from him. However, the Command did not disclose details of the alleged transaction or independently confirm the amount in its statement.

It assured members of the public that the investigation would determine the appropriate action against any officer found culpable.

“The Command assures the public that the investigation is ongoing and appropriate action will be taken based on its findings,” the statement added.

The Command did not state whether any of the officers had been arrested or disciplined as of Monday.

This incident came barely weeks after a Lagos resident, Nasir Ahmed, accused three policemen of extorting him after allegedly stopping his vehicle on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and accusing him of driving against traffic.