Six Police officers arrested over alleged extortion in Edo State

Six officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), serving under the Edo State Command, have been arrested over alleged extortion of motorists along the Benin bypass.

Edotoday reports that the arrest followed a video that surfaced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), in which the officers were seen allegedly extorting road users. The video, posted by an anonymous user, quickly went viral and drew widespread condemnation from the public.

In response, the Force Headquarters issued a statement confirming the arrest of the officers and reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance on extortion and all forms of unprofessional conduct.

According to the statement, the affected officers, along with their supervising officer, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), have been directed to report to the Force Headquarters in Abuja. Upon arrival, they were paraded before the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.

The IGP, while addressing the officers, described their alleged conduct as “shameful, distasteful, and utterly unacceptable,” and emphasized the Force’s commitment to upholding discipline, integrity, and professionalism.

“The officers have been issued official queries, and orderly room trials have commenced for the Inspectors involved,” the statement read.

The Force reiterated that no act of misconduct will be condoned and assured the public that disciplinary measures will be taken in line with established procedures.

“This development highlights the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to internal accountability. We want to assure Nigerians that the Force will not shield any officer found wanting,” the statement added.

Sources confirmed that the internal disciplinary panel will determine the fate of the arrested officers upon completion of investigations.

Meanwhile, the incident has sparked a conversation on social media, with civil society organizations and human rights advocates calling for stronger oversight and reforms within the Nigerian Police Force.

Efforts to reach the Edo State Police Command for additional comments were ongoing as of press time.