Metro

Activist Laments Police Extortion On Lagos Roads

Published

1 year ago

February 10, 2025

A human rights activist, Segun O’law, has raised concerns over widespread extortion allegedly involving police officers and government officials in various parts of Lagos State.

O’law was seen in a viral video installing road signs along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, highlighting how some motorists were being unfairly targeted by law enforcement officers.

In the video, he explained how police officers deliberately wait for unsuspecting motorists to drive on unmarked restricted roads before arresting them for alleged one-way violations.

Speaking, O’law said the motorists were usually coerced into paying large sums of money to avoid having their vehicles impounded.

He also lamented the lack of proper road signage on federal roads, which he believed was being exploited for extortion.

He said, “We are doing this because the road is a federal road and nobody would imagine that there will be an unmarked road along the area. Imagine someone coming from Sagamu, driving through Abeokuta down to Sango, then got to Abule Egba and after descending the bridge, entered a restricted lane ahead on federal road. How will an interstate driver expect to enter a restricted lane without signage?

“That is where we have the issue. It takes less than a litre of paint to write, ‘Do not enter here’ but they prefer not to put it because they want to extort. These activities are being carried out by some police officers who hide to arrest the motorists.”

Speaking on what informed his decision, O’law said the extortion had escalated to an alarming level, describing the scale as overwhelming.

He said, “Nothing else prompted the action than the fact that the extortion was getting too much. Now, it is no longer N5000 or N10,000. It is now N150,000, N200,000 and N300,000 that they extort from people. They use scare tactics by driving the victim to a corner and threatening to take him to the station and thereafter charge him to court from where their vehicles get impounded. And since no one wants their vehicle impounded, they will ask them to bring that amount. And because Lagosians are not that patient, a lot of them just part with the money.

“So they are making the money every day. You can’t even imagine the number of people they milk every day. It has become so alarming that we have to stop it. If you stand there for one hour, you will lose count of the motorists they rip off.”

He however noted that the exercise was still ongoing along the expressway in the meantime.

He said, “We are still along the Sango-Oshodi Road. The BRT lane along the corridor is what we are still covering. Most of the BRT lanes in the state are unmarked. By the time, we are done with that, we will move to Ketu-Ikorodu Road. It is a movement already and we just can’t stop because we have to rescue ourselves from the hands of this extortionist.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, could not be reached as calls made to his telephone were not responded to. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

The PUNCH had in a four-part series reported how police and government officials extort motorists plying unmarked routes in the state.

This was after the Lagos State Government prohibited driving against traffic (one-way) and auctioned 134 vehicles forfeited by their owners over the offence.

The exercise was greeted with mixed reactions, as some residents recounted driving on unmarked roads and accused the state government of not fulfilling its part.

The areas visited by our correspondent in the report included Mushin, Itire, Yaba, Dopemu, Iyana Oworo, Ajao Estate and Oshodi Isolo areas.

Metro

Police Arrest Mother, Daughter Over Alleged N18m Romance Scam

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, have arrested a woman and her daughter over their alleged involvement in a romance scam that reportedly defrauded a Malta-based victim of more than N18 million.

The police disclosed that the arrests followed investigations into allegations bordering on computer-related fraud, identity theft, and money laundering after receiving intelligence from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU.

In a statement issued by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Uwana Imah, the suspects were identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that a Lagos resident identified as Emmanuel Amanfo, who is currently at large, allegedly collaborated with Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru to open and operate multiple bank accounts used in carrying out fraudulent transactions.

“One of the victims was identified as a resident of Malta whose identity has been withheld,” the statement said.

The police further disclosed that proceeds from the alleged romance scam were transferred through money transfer operators and direct deposits into several Nigerian bank accounts belonging to Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

Investigators also alleged that the funds were later moved into an Ecobank account owned by Urowhe Diana, where the money was allegedly spent.

According to the statement, forensic analysis of the suspects’ digital activities allegedly linked both mother and daughter to the cybercrime operation, leading to their eventual arrest.

The police added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Emmanuel Amanfo, who was described as the husband of Urowhe Diana and stepfather of Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

“Investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to safeguarding Nigeria’s cyberspace and tackling cybercrime across the country.

The NPF-NCCC also urged members of the public to report suspicious cyber-related activities through its official online reporting portal and designated communication channels.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

24 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.