The Lagos State Police Command has commenced the trial of four police officers accused of extorting N1 million from three National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in the Surulere area of the state.
The incident, which was first brought to public attention on social media by X user Oluyemi Fasipe, allegedly involved officers from Area C Police Command, who stopped the corps members along Surulere Expressway. After conducting a search of their vehicle, the officers reportedly drove them to the Area C Police Station, where the extortion took place.
According to Fasipe, the officers threatened the corps members with firearms, demanding money due to the absence of a physical copy of a driver’s license. The victims claimed they were forced to transfer N200,000 from their accounts and surrender Bitcoin valued at $842. One of the officers was recorded on a spy camera demanding the license and making threats.
Following the allegations, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that the officers involved had been identified and interrogated. He later announced that their trial had officially begun on Friday.
The case has drawn public attention to the ongoing issue of police extortion and abuse of power in Nigeria.
