A disturbing case of police extortion has surfaced in Kwara State, where a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, was allegedly detained and forced to transfer ₦200,000 after refusing to unlock his phone during a routine stop.
The victim, identified as Taiwo Kayode Taye, was reportedly en route from Offa to Osogbo when he was intercepted by operatives from the Anti-Cultism Unit at Erin-Ile. The incident was brought to public attention by social media user @oyintom22 on X (formerly Twitter), sparking widespread outrage and calls for justice.
According to the viral post, the officers demanded access to the student’s phone. Upon his refusal, he was arrested and taken to the Ijagbo Police Division around 12:00 p.m., where he was allegedly detained for hours without formal charges or any legal justification.
“They demanded to check his phone, which he refused. Consequently, they took him to Ijagbo Police Division around 12 PM, where he was detained until after 5 PM,” the post read.
Later that day, the student was reportedly transferred to the State CID Anti-Cultism Department in GRA, Ilorin, where officers allegedly coerced him into unlocking his phone using Face ID and pressured him into transferring ₦200,000 to a personal bank account bearing the name Lucy Akor.
The viral post directly called out the Nigeria Police Force, particularly tagging the official handle of the Force Public Relations Officer, @Princemoye1, and the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU). It condemned the conduct of the officers and demanded immediate action and redress.
“Without any charges or a statement, they forced him to unlock his bank account using Face ID and coerced him into transferring ₦200,000… What kind of country allows this? Please address this injustice.”
As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from the Kwara State Police Command or the Force Headquarters regarding the incident. However, the post has gained significant traction online, with many Nigerians expressing anger over what appears to be a growing trend of illegal stop-and-search tactics and youth profiling by security forces.
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The incident also raises concerns over the unchecked powers of specialized police units like the Anti-Cultism Squad, which critics say have increasingly operated outside constitutional boundaries.
A Systemic Issue?
This is not the first time Nigerian youths have reported harassment and extortion at the hands of law enforcement officers. Despite the 2020 #EndSARS protests that forced the disbandment of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), similar abuses appear to persist under different unit names and mandates.
Legal analysts have pointed out that random phone searches by law enforcement without a warrant violate the right to privacy under Section 37 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as well as established case law regarding unlawful detention and coercion.
“The issue here is not just extortion; it is a blatant abuse of power and fundamental rights. The silence from police authorities only deepens the distrust between the public and security operatives,” said a legal expert who spoke to BsgistNews anonymously.
Demands for Justice
The public is now demanding a swift investigation, prosecution of the implicated officers, and reimbursement of the extorted funds. Activists have also renewed calls for the reform of police operations in Nigeria, particularly regarding the unchecked powers of tactical squads.
The victim, Taiwo Kayode Taye, and his family have not yet spoken publicly, but pressure is mounting on the Nigeria Police Force to respond to the growing uproar.
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