Hope James
The police in Lagos State have been accused of searching mobile phones of residents and extorting money from them.
A police corporal, Opeyemi Kadiri, was recently dismissed after he was seen in a viral video searching the phone of a commuter.
It was gathered that the Mile 2 area of Lagos was being exploited by bribe-seeking cops, who were usually dressed in mufti.
Some Twitter users on Tuesday claimed that the officers searched mobile phones for incriminating materials and also extorted money using POS machines.
A Cryptocurrency coach, ThePaulOla, lamented that N5,000 was extorted from him at Mile 2.
He wrote, “Just got stopped by some members of the PoliceNG along Mile 2 Road. Told me to enter their van, checked my phone, saw nothing and still collected 5k from me via POS.”
In response, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, assured that the illegal act would be curbed.
Adejobi said, “POS again? Haaaa, can u please reach out to Ben and me? They are doing these now; their solicitors and advocates are not seeing it, but when they are caught and dealt with, they raise dust. Anyway, whatever they want to say, they can go ahead, we will do the needful to curb all these excesses. Too bad.”
Another user Chidpiero1, said, “They did it to me too. Mine was 15k, same Mile 2. It is now becoming too much.”
One ohagwachidera, who claimed he did not part with money after encountering the suspects at Mile 2, said he was beaten when he mentioned the IG’s order.
He said, “Happened to me last week Friday along same Mile 2 Road. They told me to come down and next thing, open my phone. I said I couldn’t that IG of police had given orders against such. I was rushed with some slaps but I still stood my ground. After everything, I was allowed to go.”
Recall that the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had instructed policemen not to search the phones of residents.
The spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the command was monitoring the situation.
He said, “We handle cases on individual basis. This particular case has been reported; I’ve seen it on Twitter and we are taking it up. So, I’m aware of this particular case.”