Fuel or ₦5,000? Police Officers Summoned Over Viral Extortion Video
The Nigeria Police Force has summoned several officers identified in a viral video extorting motorists in Benin City, Edo State.
The video, which circulated widely on Monday, shows one officer demanding either ₦5,000 or five litres of fuel from travellers who could not produce proof of Electronic Central Motor Registry (ECMR) registration—despite a nationwide suspension of ECMR enforcement.
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, condemned the act via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“This action is utterly condemned. The officers have been identified and summoned to Force Headquarters for necessary disciplinary measures.”
He added that the Force remains committed to rooting out misconduct: “We will not tolerate any act of indiscipline or unprofessionalism. The public will be updated as actions unfold.”
In the video, one traveller is heard asking, “What do you want us to do?” to which an officer replies, “We’ll go and buy it, that’s 5k.” The traveller then says, “You want 5k from each of us?” Another officer is heard requesting, “Bring three litres of fuel.”
The footage has sparked outrage online, with renewed calls for police accountability.
Also reacting, Delta State Police Command spokesperson SP Edafe Bright wrote on X:
“All these policemen bringing shame to us — one by one, they will be sent out. Maybe when they’re jobless, they’ll go into content creation. This is embarrassing, and the Force is on it.”
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had in July 2024 suspended ECMR enforcement after public outcry condemned it as a tool for extortion.
