Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Police Force has initiated disciplinary proceedings against six officers, including a Chief Superintendent of Police, following the circulation of a viral video showing alleged extortion of motorists along the Benin bypass, IgbereTV reports.
The Force’s response came after widespread public outcry over footage posted by IgbereTV showing uniformed officers stopping vehicles and demanding payments from drivers, in clear violation of police regulations.
The implicated officers were summoned to Force Headquarters in Abuja where they appeared before Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun. The IGP described their actions as “shameful and distasteful” and ordered immediate disciplinary measures.
According to an official police statement:
– All six officers have received official queries
– Internal disciplinary hearings (orderly room trials) have commenced for the inspectors involved
– The supervising Chief Superintendent of Police is under investigation for command responsibility
The police reaffirmed their commitment to professionalism and accountability, promising appropriate sanctions for misconduct. This development comes amid growing public concern about extortion by security personnel on Nigerian highways.
Civil society organizations have responded cautiously to the police action. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, noted: “While we welcome the swift response, this case highlights the need for systemic reforms beyond just punishing individual officers.”
The Nigeria Police Force has not provided a timeline for completing the disciplinary process but encouraged citizens to continue reporting misconduct through official channels including the Police Complaint Response Unit.
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