The Nigeria Police Force has identified and summoned a group of officers involved in extorting motorists.
A video, which circulated widely on Monday, showed a police officer demanding either ₦5,000 or five litres of fuel from travellers in Benin City, Edo State, who were unable to present proof of Electronic Central Motor Registry (ECMR) registration.
In response, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, while condemning the act, said those behind the action have been summoned.
This action is utterly condemned. The officers have been identified and summoned to Force Headquarters for necessary action, he wrote on Tuesday via X (formerly Twitter).
We will not tolerate any act of indiscipline or unprofessionalism. We will update the public on our decisions as soon as possible, Adejobi stated.
Despite an earlier suspension of ECMR enforcement, the officer was seen insisting on the document. One of the travellers is heard challenging the request, stating, “What do you want us to do?” to which one of the officers replied, We’ll go and buy it, that’s 5k.
The traveller then responded, “You want 5k from each of us?” while the officer instructed another motorist to bring three litres of fuel.
The footage has since sparked public outrage, renewing concerns over extortion and misconduct by law enforcement personnel.
Also reacting, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright, expressed his frustration on X, writing, All these policemen bringing shame to us, one by one, they will be sent out of the organisation. Maybe when they become jobless, they will go into content creation. This is embarrassing, and the force is on it.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had in July 2024 suspended the enforcement of ECMR registration following nationwide backlash. At the time, many Nigerians decried the policy as a veiled tool for extortion.
