Police Arrest Officer Over Alleged Extortion Of Motorist In Lagos

The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest and detention of one of its officers accused of extorting a motorist in the Idimu area of Lagos.

The development followed a viral video circulating on social media, in which the driver alleged that he was stopped by the officer despite having complete vehicle documents.

According to the motorist’s account of the incident, he revealed that the situation escalated when the officer disputed the colour of his vehicle, insisting it was “grey” instead of “ash” as indicated in the registration papers.

He further alleged that the officer threatened him with arrest over the discrepancy and demanded the sum of ₦30,000, which was eventually negotiated down to ₦10,000.

However, in a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, the police confirmed that the officer involved had been identified and taken into custody.

“The officer seen in the viral video as posted by #epiccycl has been identified, arrested, detained and queried. The #LagosPoliceNG will provide the full outcome of the investigation as soon as possible,” the statement read.

The Force added that disciplinary procedures have already commenced against the officer, in line with its internal regulations. It further assured the public that the outcome of the investigation would be made known after the completion of the necessary review processes.

The incident has once again drawn attention to concerns over extortion and unprofessional conduct among some security personnel, particularly in urban centres, as there have been repeated calls for stricter enforcement of discipline within the Force, alongside improved accountability mechanisms to restore public confidence.

The police authorities reiterated their commitment to professionalism and urged members of the public to report cases of misconduct for prompt action.