Port Harcourt, Nigeria – In a brazen display of police intimidation and extortion, a young blogger was illegally detained and forced to pay N30,000 out of N500,000 originally demanded after simply offering an officer N500 as a token of appreciation at an Eliozu checkpoint.
How It Happened
The victim, who shared his ordeal on social media, explained that he was driving near the Eliozu roundabout when he was stopped by police officers. Out of habit and goodwill, he voluntarily handed one officer N500, only for the officer to suddenly raise an alarm, accusing him of bribery.
“I asked him, ‘Did I commit an offense? Is there anything wrong with my papers? If I wanted to bribe you, would it be just N500?’” the blogger recounted.
Despite his explanation that he was simply being generous—as he had done with other officers in the past—the situation escalated. The officers called for backup, and he was taken to meet their superior, who gave him an ultimatum:
– Pay a N500,000 fine for “attempting to bribe an officer”
– OR face detention at the station
“Where am I supposed to find N500k to give them? I can’t even afford fuel for my car!” he lamented.
Taken to the Police Station
After prolonged arguments, he was taken to the station, where he met a higher-ranking officer (DPO). Fortunately, the officer was more reasonable and listened to his side of the story.
The DPO informed him that giving money to police officers without them requesting it is technically an offense, even if the intention wasn’t bribery. The officer then questioned him about his profession (blogging) and even engaged him in a brief discussion about tech (since the DPO was a computer scientist).
After verifying his story, the DPO still demanded N30,000 bribe before releasing him.
Public Outrage & Reactions
The blogger’s post has since gone viral, sparking outrage among Nigerians who shared similar experiences of police intimidation and extortion. Many questioned:
– “If N500 is a bribe, why did they later collect N30k?”
– “Why punish goodwill while actual bribery goes unchecked?”
– “Is this how we encourage trust between citizens and the police?”
Final Words from the Victim
“This was my first time ever entering a police station, and it was my worst experience with the police. The worst part? It happened right here in our own Port Harcourt.”
The Ugly Truth:
This isn’t about “law enforcement” – it’s about finding any excuse to extort innocent Nigerians. The blogger committed no crime, yet was:
🔹 Illegally detained
🔹 Threatened with false charges
🔹 Forced to pay a “fine” that went straight into police pockets
The Bigger Problem:
While the police claim to be fighting corruption, checkpoint extortion remains their biggest revenue stream. This case proves:
1. No receipt was issued for the N30,000
2. No official charge was filed
3. No investigation occurred – just instant punishment for being kind
Have you been victimized by police extortion? Share your story in the comments
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