A Nigerian man has narrated how police officers in Festac town, Lagos state extorted N200,000 from him, after he arrived in the country from Dubai, United Arab Emirates and was heading home from the airport.
Rinu Oduala, #EndSARS frontliner, initially shared the story of the man on her Twitter handle.
She wrote;
A young Nigerian came back from the UAE this morning Took Uber from the airport to Festac & bumped into Nigerian police officers who profiled, unlawfully searched his phone, harassed & dragged him to their station See why some of us haven’t removed #EndSARS from our displays?
A young Nigerian came back from the UAE this morning
Took Uber from the airport to Festac & bumped into Nigerian police officers who profiled, unlawfully searched his phone, harassed & dragged him to their station
See why some of us haven’t removed #EndSARS from our displays?
— Rinu #EndSARS🔥🔫 (@SavvyRinu) April 15, 2021
She alleged that the young man was forced to false statements without his lawyer, then proceeded to ask him to give them N5,000,000.
Rinu stated that she ended up paying N200,000, lamenting that the man only just came back to Nigeria after years of being away and that his first night in the country is filled with nightmares.
They forced him to write false statements without his lawyer, then proceeded to ask him to give them N5,000,000.
He ended up paying 200k to end the mess.
A young Nigerian comes back after years of being away & his first night in the country is filled with nightmares.
— Rinu #EndSARS🔥🔫 (@SavvyRinu) April 15, 2021
This happened at Area E, Festac command.
We are still saying #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria
— Rinu #EndSARS🔥🔫 (@SavvyRinu) April 15, 2021
Giving an update later on, Rinu said that he got back his money following the intervention of some persons.
Update:
We got the money back.Area E Festac Police Command has been a den of criminals in Police uniforms for far too long.
We are on the watch @PoliceNG ! https://t.co/MgQwsHC6qH pic.twitter.com/0Q0N1GXPJw— Rinu #EndSARS🔥🔫 (@SavvyRinu) April 16, 2021
The man later took to Twitter to reveal his identity and recount how the incident happened.
He wrote;
I was actually the victim of this harassment Yesterday by a group of police men who forcefully harassed me , took my phones out from my bag and took me to the police station in Area E Festac town.
I was actually the victim of this harassment Yesterday by a group of police men who forcefully harassed me , took my phones out from my bag and took me to the police station in Area E Festac town . https://t.co/dX3nNUS6NL pic.twitter.com/0fNa4rd4zK
— Oddone (@iamoddone) April 16, 2021
He stressed;
When we got there I was asked to give them the sum of 15 million but at the end of the day, i was taking to a POS spot opposite the station and they took the sum of 200k from my account for no just reason . It took the intervention of @segalink @SavvyRinu @Gifted_Kabi.
When we got there I was asked to give them the sum of 15 million but at the end of the day, i was taking to a POS spot opposite the station and they took the sum of 200k from my account for no just reason . It took the intervention of @segalink @SavvyRinu @Gifted_Kabi
— Oddone (@iamoddone) April 16, 2021
The Twitter user added;
Who helped me reached out to the right authorities who sent a signals to the festac police unit for the crime their boys must have done. I want to thank the Area E commander @MuawiyahHalilu @AcpIshaku @PoliceNG.
@PoliceNG_CRU My money has been recovered handed over to me.
Who helped me reached out to the right authorities who sent a signals to the festac police unit for the crime their boys must have done . I want to thank the Area E commander @MuawiyahHalilu @AcpIshaku @PoliceNG @PoliceNG_CRU
My money has been Recovered handed over to me .— Oddone (@iamoddone) April 16, 2021
He revealed that the police men involved have been arrested as a the POS agent, adding that he believes there are still good people in the Nigeria police force.
The police men has been locked up and pos agent was also locked up . I believe there’re still Good people in the Nigeria police force .
I also thank the DPO of festac police Iwansonkun O. Femi.
Thank you sir .— Oddone (@iamoddone) April 16, 2021
Confirming the incident to newsmen, the spokesperson of the state police command, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police officers have since been arrested and will be made to face the law.
He said;
It has been handled. The money 200k recovered and returned to the man. The policemen will soon face trial and be punished.
