*OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE* Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Shehu Shagari Way, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. Current IGP: Olatunji Rilwan Disu
*NIGERIA POLICE COMPLAINT RESPONSE UNIT (CRU) *
I am writing to formally bring to your attention a deeply concerning and reoccurring cases of police misconduct I recently witnessed in the Ayobo area of Lagos. This is not a complaint born of any personal grudge or altercation, but rather a civic duty to report what I saw to appropriate authority.
During a recent visit to the area, specifically along Maigada Street close to the Ayobo roundabout, I observed a group of about three police officers openly extorting motorists. The most troubling aspect of this was the location: this act was taking place right in front of the Ayobo Police Station, not a police post, but a fully operational station.
I have seen and heard of various forms of corruption involving law enforcement, but witnessing such brazen activities unfold directly outside the station is shameful, alarming, and a severe indictment of the professionalism of the officers involved.
The situation became even more troubling days later. I saw officers, who I suspect were from the same station, mounting an illegal roadblock along the Olayemi to NNPC road — a terrible, untarred road. There, they were systematically stopping commercial motorcycle (Okada) riders and demanding N200 from each of them at every turn.
The scale of this operation became clear when my own Okada rider told me that this trip was his 28th of the day, and that he would be required to remit the "payments" collected directly to the policemen before the end of the day. This goes beyond petty bribery; it is a systemic extortion racket that preys on some of the hardest-working individuals in our society, adding a significant financial burden to their daily struggles.
This incident is sadly a reflection of a wider issue. Recent reports show that Lagos residents are increasingly voicing frustration over police conduct, citing extortion, intimidation, and harassment as common problems that erode publictrust in law enforcement .
My own experience in Ayobo is a stark example of this. The public's willingness to cooperate with the police, as encouraged by the mantra, "if you see something, say something," is severely undermined when officers behave in this manner. At the root of this issue is a clear breach of the official stance of the Lagos State Police Command, which has repeatedly stated that "bail is free" and that "extortion in any form will not be tolerated".
I want to stress that my motivation for writing is not to see any worker dismissed, which is why I refrained from taking photographic evidence for fear of being responsible for someone's livelihood. However, it is vital that proper investigation be conducted, and actions taken to restore the integrity of the force. I am confident that concerned citizens like myself will not remain silent when we encounter such acts in the future, and we will use the official channels available to report them.
I urge you to kindly look into this matter before it spirals further out of control and the public's trust in the police is irreparably damaged.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Olayinka Tolulope AKA Senator Soft An eye witness documentary 08146579361
