A Nigerian man cries out as police assault him and his friend for not owning a phone and extort ₦15k from his other friend at gunpoint on their way to support a friend's shop opening in Imo State.
This is contained in a post made available on his page via a popular social media platform, X (formerly Twitter).
The man stated that they were stopped at a location called Amaraku by a joint team of the Police, Army, and Special Forces.
According to him, after they were searched, it was discovered that two out of the three of them had no phones, and this led to the two being slapped.
He added that the third person, who had a phone, was forced to unlock it at gunpoint.
When the officers found ₦21,000 in his account, they allegedly instructed him to transfer ₦15,000 to a personal account belonging to one of them.
The man further claimed that the officer received the money privately while lying to his colleagues that they had been released freely.
Sharing his ordeal, he wrote:
"EXTORTED BY THOSE SWORN TO PROTECT US - A TRUE STORY FROM AMARAKU, IMO STATE."
🧵"Yesterday, Nigeria failed us again. We were just 3 guys heading to support a friend's shop opening in Amaraku, Imo State. No drugs, no guns, our crime, we dressed well. We were stopped by a joint force of Police, Army, and Special Force."
"They stared at us like we were animals. Two of us had no phones - and that was our crime. They slapped us for not owning phones. Imagine! The third guy had his phone."
"They forced him, like criminals, to unlock it and show his bank app. They saw ₦21k total, and like hungry vultures, they took ₦15k."
He continued,
"₦15,000! From a boy who's hustling just to survive. The worst part? The officer used his personal number to collect the transfer secretly - lied to his team that he 'freed us.' This was extortion in broad daylight."
"Over ₦5 million was made on that road that day, right before our eyes. Every passing car? They collected. Even people with nothing weren't spared."
He went on to question the current state of law enforcement, saying:
"The Nigerian Police already said no phone searches, so I ask: DOES THE LAW STILL EXIST? Or is Imo State now a jungle ruled by guns and uniforms?"
"We couldn't record. If not for slaps and fear of being shot, I would have captured everything. But go there today - see for yourself."
"They're still there, extorting citizens like it's a business. Check the screenshot ABOVE - it has the name and number of the officer who took our money."
As the post gained traction online, many concerned individuals flooded the comment section to express outrage and call for accountability.
See some reactions below:
@tega1x: "Sorry that you had to go through this bro. Nigeria is a country at war but the citizens are not aware."
@Michaelking2569: "Those are what we face every day from the people in military,later they will say police is your friend, friends over my dead body."
@awwal_sabee: "I go around with police extortion funds..always leaving 20k in my palmpay app.. I hide all other bank apps and leave my palmpay just for days like this.. not for Armed robbers but for police!"
@NwaBoyOBI: "Yes, I know that place... Itsa called PDS junction just before ANARA junction... that's place is a JTF criminal zone.. THEY EXTORT ALOT OF PASSERBY THERE.....Buses on move parks and every passenger walks on foot past the checkpoint... Abeg Imo people plying that Rd set don tire."
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