A troubling incident involving extortion and coercion by officers at the Lagos Airport checkpoint has sparked calls for immediate police reform.
According to a video on X, Mr John, a car dealer from Anambra State, was en route to the airport to catch a flight when his taxi was stopped at a checkpoint near Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2).
Despite his urgent pleas about his impending flight, police officers ordered Mr. John to follow them, dismissing his taxi driver on the spot.
Mr. John, the officers then coerced him into transferring N1,000,000 into an Opay account they provided. They allegedly forced him to falsely confess to being a Yahoo boy. After the transfer was completed, they released him without any formal charges or documentation.
This delay caused Mr. John to miss his flight, adding significant distress to an already harrowing experience.
Days later, Harrison Gwamnishu went to the DPO of Lagos Command, who confirmed the incident and asked the traveler to come and retrieve his money
His words: “Dear CP LAGOS AIRPORT COMMAND. Some of your officers mounting checkpoint before MMA2 has the habit of arresting travelers and then criminally extorting them.
“On the 29th May, 2024, Mr, John, a car dealer from Anambra state was in a taxi rushing to the Airport to catch a flight when his taxi was stopped for search. From searching, they ordered Mr John to follow them and immediately discharged his taxi driver, despite his plea that he’s about to miss his flight.
“FastTrack, he was asked to transfer N1,000,000 into an Opay account they gave him and forced him to admit being a Yahoo boy.
“After they received the N1,000,000, they released him without a bond. Mr. John hurriedly got to Airport and unfortunately missed his flight. NO NIGERIA DESERVES THIS KIND OF TREATMENT #PoliceReform.”
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