Police probe extortion allegations against officers in Kwara

The Kwara State Police Commissioner, Adekimi Ojo, has ordered a thorough investigation into alleged acts of extortion by some police officers of the command along Osi-Eruku highway in the Kwara South Senatorial District of the state.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s Spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on Tuesday in Ilorin, the state capital.

According to Ejire-Adeyemi, the command is aware of a video footage circulating on social media alleging that officers on duty were involved in an act of extortion.

The statement read, “The Command is aware of a video footage circulating on social media alleging that police officers on duty were involved in an act of extortion along Osi-Eruku road in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, CP Adekimi Ojo, has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident. If the officers involved have been identified and found guilty, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

“The Command remains committed to upholding professionalism, integrity, and accountability in all its operations.”

SaharaReporters had reported that police personnel stationed along the Osi–Eruku highway were seen stopping vehicles and demanding money from motorists

The officers were reportedly operating with an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), which was meant to be used for anti-banditry patrols in the area.

In the footage, a visibly frustrated motorist narrated how the policemen had abandoned their core responsibility of securing the region from kidnappers and were instead preying on innocent travellers.

“They are assigned to fight kidnappers, but they are here collecting money from motorists.

“There is no day that the kidnappers do not kill people in this area. Obo-Aiyegunle is there, Eruku is there — you don’t go there to face the terrorists, but you are here in the city collecting money from people,” he lamented

Residents and motorists who ply the route daily also confirmed that the police officers mounted several informal checkpoints, allegedly demanding money from each vehicle before allowing it to pass.

Some drivers said the refusal to comply often led to intimidation, seizure of vehicle keys, or prolonged delays.

Local traders and commuters expressed dismay that security personnel deployed to ensure their safety were now worsening their hardship.

They called on the Kwara State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police to urgently intervene and redeploy the erring officers to the forest areas where bandits have been operating with increasing boldness.