In a disturbing incident unfolding along the roads of Eleme in Rivers State, some individuals armed with AK-47 rifles, purportedly identified as Nigerian Police officers, perpetrated a grave act of abduction and extortion.
The victim, Mr Uzoma Enyinna Godswill, found himself ensnared in a web of exploitation while journeying from Port Harcourt to Oka to visit his recently returned brother.
The unsettling episode, which transpired on Wednesday, 15 May, 2024, was brought to public attention through a Twitter post by Harrison Gwamnishu.
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The revelation has triggered a wave of reactions from concerned Nigerians, underscoring a growing sentiment of dissatisfaction with the perceived inadequacy of disciplinary measures against rogue officers within the Nigerian police force.
According to Godswill, recounted through an audio recording shared with Gwamnishu, the encounter unfolded approximately 10 kilometres past a previous police checkpoint.
What initially appeared as routine questioning swiftly devolved into aggression, culminating in physical assault and Godwills being coerced into a Sienna vehicle by a group of approximately six officers.
Speaking of the ordeal, Godswill disclosed, “The incident happened around 5 pm… They took me to the back of the Sienna and asked me what I was doing for a living.”
“They asked me to open my phone, and I wondered why. I requested my phone back to call a DSP, and the moment they heard me mention DSP, they started beating me. I cannot hear very well in my two ears, and my eyes are swollen and still bleeding till now.
He further detailed how the officers forcibly accessed his mobile phone and stumbled upon a text notification indicating a credit alert from one of his account officers intended for a simple purchase of water.
Despite vehemently denying any involvement in illicit activities because they asked him if I “had a car tracker and security code?” Godwills faced escalating demands for a bribe, accompanied by further physical violence. Refusing to succumb to the officers’ coercion, he adamantly rebuffed accusations of being an internet fraudster.
The officers, lacking an incriminating admission, resorted to coercive tactics, compelling Godwills to accompany them to a Point of Sale (POS) terminal.
There, a staggering sum of N1,000,000 was forcefully withdrawn from his account, with the POS operator allegedly receiving a commission of N20,000 for their complicity.
Following the extortion, Godswill was callously dropped off, with the officers cynically suggesting he offer thanks at a church. However, driven by a sense of indignation, he pursued the perpetrators, seeking assistance from other law enforcement personnel at a subsequent checkpoint.
Godswill recounted his efforts: “I drove like two posts and saw another police checkpoint… It was the police officers who snapped the picture and advised me to go to the police headquarters and report the case.”
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, prompting calls for swift action from the police authorities. Godswill’s traumatic experience serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive insecurity faced by motorists navigating Nigerian roads, marred by the spectre of police corruption and abuse of power.
As angry Nigerians await a response from law enforcement agencies, the spotlight remains firmly on the urgent need for systemic reforms to root out corruption and restore public trust in the Nigerian police force.
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