“Every morning at about 6.30 a.m., these Nigerian police ‘officers’ without uniforms mount a checkpoint at the Ijebu Ode second junction by the Lekki-Epe express road, Ogun State. They extort money from road users. They usually demand from N200 to N1000. Some days ago, I witnessed how one of them stopped a Tokunbo car and demanded N10,000.
The driver demonstrated all the valid car documents and tried to settle for N2000. After arguing for about an hour, the group of ‘policemen’ took the driver to the bush closest to the toll gate, searched him and collected N5000 from him.”“A shame for Nigerian police and Nigeria”
This report has divided Naij.com commentators into two opposing camps. Some peoplecondemned those Nigerian police officers who are involved in such illegal and criminal activities. Some said the offenders may not stop at just robbing a person, and blamed corrupt higher officials for stimulating such practices.
Thomas Clayman Tubobelem said: I think the Nigerian police should stop road check-ups because I don’t really know who robs more: them or armed robbers!
Momoh Zainab Zeebaby said: I don’t knw who is fooling who. The people who put policemen into office are even bigger thieves. Why do you guys still expect the subordinates to be decent? Naija is led by corrupt leaders.
Udeme Sylvester said: One day, God will disgrace those road fraudsters. This nonsense is too much for Naija! As if the government doesn’t pay them salaries.
Aighobahi Nosakhare said: If the top officers at the Nigerian police force hierarchy are serious, they can obtain my contact on this platform. I will give them a scapegoat in less than one week. It’s heart-breaking that the NPF still exists in this country. They add no value to the development of the society… unless they are valuable to those who use them as attack dogs against citizens and opposition groups.
Bello S. Dayo said: Their names are displayed on their uniforms, that’s why they change to civilian clothing: so as not to disclose their identy.
Hope Essien said: This is a serious issue! The problem, is you wouldn’t even know if they are armed robbers, or the Nigerian police officers. Anybody can carry a gun and wear that useless thing they wear on their chest. They are all thieves.
Other respondents, however, argued it is unlikely that the perpetrators belong to the Nigerian police force.
Abbas J Bello said: Armed robbers and thugs are operating at Ijebu Ode, not police force.
Awemiri Prosper Ojo said: Point of correction. They are not with the Nigerian police. Rather, they are robbers on highways. A policeman can never go to a road while on patrol without their lawful uniform!
“True story”
Despite the disagreement so as to who exactly operates on the roads, many Nigerians recounted their own unpleasant encounters with the thugs.
Adams Ganiyu Oye said: These people are giving Nigeria a bad image. I hope somebody in an appropriate position looks into this type of maltreatment the public are receiving from these criminals.
Kaka Olusegun said: I still don’t understand whether these are the Ijebu-Ode policemen. They are in all routes to Ijebu: From Ibadan-Ijebu, Lagos-Ijebu, Lekki Expressway-Ijebu. The worst is on the Benin-Ore expressway where you see checkpoints at every 20 metres. I was almost shot in June 2011 on Benin-Ore expressway. Our driver decided not to give money again, and I intervened. Crimes and militancy are going on in all parts of the country. There is a lcak of inadequate force to tackle this. I tagged them Official Armed Robbers.
Aighobahi Nosakhare said: I have encountered this very set of disgruntled officers two days ago. One of them gave me a fierce slap because I dared to look at his name tag after refusing to give him money. I had a valid temporary D/L, so I requested that I should be taken to the nearest FRSC post. Their team leader apologised, though, after I threatened to call my military friend. I don’t blame these NPF officers. It’s not human failure, but institutional failure. The IG, CIC and other senior office holders are as guilty as these ill-trained government thugs.
Junior Hiidee said: At Ikorodu, along Ita-Maga, Gberigbe road. Police with uniform also collect money from transporters, expecially trucks, tankers, tippers. They take bribes starting from N1000. We plead with our Government to find a solution to this unlawful act.
Yusuf Dammy said: There is another road block between Igbara-Oke, Ondo State, and Igbara-Odo, Ekiti State. They usually operate in plain clothes with a private car. The only clue to give away their belonging to the police are their bulletproof jackets.
Sebby Ekanem said: You can see (especially these men) without uniform at the Brown junction, in Oshodi, disturbing Okada people every evening.
Nd Man said: I’ve had exactly the same experience back in 2010. I was going from Lagos with my Nissan Almeira, newly bought, with all documents intact. At the Umunede and Igbodo expressway, they demanded N10,000 from me. When I said I didn’t have the sum, they labelled my car a “suspected” stolen vehicle. They seized it from me at a gunpoint. The next day, I brought them N5,000, but they have already damaged the front bumper. So my people! For the sake of your lives, beware of the armed men in black uniforms.
Halima Bello-Abdulrahman said: This story is very true. I saw them last week, too. They were working without proper uniforms and, of course, collected money from people.
Nigerians have reported that similar illegal practices, conducted either by Nigerian policemen or by armed hoodlums, are ongoing in Ibadan, Oyo State; Mile 2 brige in Lagos; Jalingo to Wukari road of Taraba state; and in Akwa Ibom State.
Have you ever experienced similar maltreatment from the hands of either the police, or armed robbers or any form of abuse by persons?
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