In FESTAC Town, a Lagos community, residents are voicing their distress over continuous police extortion and harassment. They allege that officers stationed at checkpoints, notably at Durbar Hotel and Apple Junctions, are forcibly collecting money from motorists, threatening those who resist with detention.

According to a report by The Guardian, Ben Chukwuma, a resident of Festac Extension Estate, expressed his frustration, noting that even those with proper vehicle documentation are not spared. Despite repeated complaints to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Gboyega Balogun, the situation remains unchanged. The DPO has denied his unit’s involvement, attributing the issue to officers from the 7th Avenue police post.

One of the victims, Okey Nkemakola, a car dealer in 3rd Avenue, recounted a disturbing encounter where he was forced to pay N100,000 to avoid false charges of vehicle theft. “The officers were initially civil, but things quickly escalated,” he said. Nkemakola described a scene of widespread shakedowns, where amounts ranging from N20,000 to N50,000 were extracted from various individuals.

The Divisional Police Officer, CSP Balogun, while acknowledging the issue, pointed to the challenges of controlling officers assembled from various divisions. He lamented the lack of oversight and expressed his intention to raise the matter with the new Commissioner of Police.

This situation in FESTAC Town is symptomatic of broader issues within the Nigerian Police Force, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Lagos. Residents are urging the police department to take immediate action to curb this rampant abuse of power.

Community-based organizations and human rights activists are calling for systemic changes, including better training and accountability mechanisms within the police force. They stress the need for the government to address these deep-rooted issues to restore public trust in law enforcement.