LAGOS — The Lagos State Police Command has begun disciplinary proceedings against Tactical Unit officers attached to Mile 2 Police Station over allegations that they detained four young men and extorted N100,000 from them. The case came to light after a report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, prompting Area Commander, ACP Godwin Oti Chike, to launch an investigation.
One of the victims, Ayomide Akinpelu Salvation, said the men were picked up around Festival Cinema, FESTAC, while heading back to their hotel after a movie. They were accused of being armed robbers and cultists and taken to Mile 2 Station at about 11pm. Akinpelu alleged that officers checked their bank balances around 2am and demanded bail, eventually collecting N100,000 via an OPay transfer to an account named Wahab Ayinde Abdulrasaq before releasing them around 5am. He said the group had cinema tickets and payment receipts to prove where they had been.
ACP Oti confirmed statements were obtained from the victims and that the officers had refunded the money. “I have taken the statements from the boys involved and I have gotten the officers to refund the money to them and the issue has been resolved amicably,” he said. The Command said further disciplinary action will follow, as it moves to uphold accountability within the force.
