A team of police officers attached to Area F of the Lagos State Police Command has been detained for allegedly extorting a Chinese expatriate along the Sheraton-Opebi Link Road.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday when the three officers, conducting a stop-and-search operation, flagged down the expatriate and requested his documents, including a green card. Although he provided digital copies via his phone, the officers insisted on seeing the originals.
According to rights activist Lameed Adekunle, after prolonged discussions, the officers allegedly forced the expatriate to transfer ₦100,000 to a Point of Sale (POS) account to secure his release. “He was on his way to an urgent meeting and, to avoid delays, had to make the payment,” Adekunle explained.
The matter came to light when the expatriate shared his ordeal with his Nigerian co-workers, who then escalated the issue to human rights groups. Adewale Ojo of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights confirmed that the officers were identified, arrested, and detained at the provost’s office in Ikeja.
Ojo further revealed that the police officers were instructed to refund the ₦100,000 to the victim by Monday. “We are committed to ensuring that bad elements within the force are held accountable, and we will follow this case to its conclusion,” he stated.
A picture seen by PUNCH Metro showed one of the officers engaging the expatriate in his vehicle, while a transfer receipt bearing the victim’s and recipient’s names was also reviewed.
As of the time of filing this report, Lagos State Police Command spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin had yet to respond to calls or messages seeking comment.
This incident follows a similar case in October 2024, when officers from the Area C Police Command in Surulere allegedly extorted ₦1 million from three National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members after stopping their vehicle along the Surulere expressway.
