A student from Ekiti State University (EKSU) has accused the Nigerian Police of extorting N150,000 from him and his friends, just weeks after the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun issued a directive to curb arbitrary arrests, harassment, and the checking of mobile phones by officers.

In his online post, which did not disclose his identity, the student detailed an encounter with armed police officers at multiple checkpoints in Ojota, Lagos, where he was allegedly forced to pay the money after being accused of involvement in cryptocurrency.

The student explained that he and his friend were traveling from Alakuko to Ebutte, Ikorodu, in an InDrive vehicle when they were first stopped at 11:23 AM by a group of armed officers.

The officers allegedly searched his phone and, finding nothing incriminating, allowed them to continue. However, less than a minute later, they encountered another set of armed officers who stopped them and repeated the same questions.

After searching his phone again, one of the officers reportedly became agitated after seeing trading apps and WhatsApp groups related to trading.

He allegedly accused the student of engaging in cryptocurrency activities, which he claimed were illegal in Nigeria, and demanded N200,000.

The student, fearing for his safety, explained that he did not have that amount of money. The officers allegedly then forced him and his friend into their vehicle, a tinted Sienna, and took them to a POS merchant.

There, the student was reportedly coerced into transferring N150,000, money he had saved for his school fees. He provided a receipt and the POS account number as evidence of the transaction.

In response to the student’s allegations, Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi directed the Lagos Police Command to investigate the officers involved.

He specifically instructed SP Benjamin Hundeyin and other relevant units to look into the case, stressing that the police should not be checking phones on the road and condemning such behavior.