Your friend might be a police officer, but the police is never your friend.
Every day since December 2023, Adeola Lukman (not his real name) has lived in fear while making his way home from his business on CMD Road in Ketu, Lagos. His anxiety stems not from threats of robbery, kidnapping, or ritualistic attacks, but from a persistent fear of being abducted by officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) attached to the Ketu Division, who, without cause, might throw him into a cell for the night.
On Monday, Lukman shared his ordeal with FIJ, alleging that officers from the Ketu Division have routinely arrested innocent citizens and workers under the guise of conducting security raids. According to him, the victims are often people returning home late from work or leisure activities. He described a grim pattern: officers labeling their victims as cultists or internet fraudsters, ignoring valid identification cards, beating those who resist, and demanding hefty sums for bail.
Since starting his business, Lukman has been arrested at least three times. “The arrests begin around 11 p.m.,” he explained. “They target people walking home late, even those coming back from work. It doesn’t matter if you show them your ID; they still pick you up. If you resist, they beat you up, throw you into their bus, and demand thousands of naira for your release.”
Lukman further revealed that the arrests, initially disguised as security operations, have turned into a money-making scheme. “They demand N50,000, N100,000, or more for bail. Two of my staff were arrested recently, and the officers asked for N100,000, threatening to send them to prison if they didn’t pay.”
Shockingly, he recounted incidents where officers from the same station would arrest individuals who had just paid bail to secure their release. “A friend of mine went to bail someone who had been picked up after work. He paid N30,000 for the release. But as they were walking home, another set of officers from the same station arrested them again. They demanded another payment and threatened to detain them indefinitely if no one came forward to help.”
In one instance, Lukman shared how some officers appeared to monitor his lounge to track when his staff and customers were leaving. “I’ve caught officers several times circling our area, seemingly waiting for people to leave so they can arrest them. It’s deeply troubling. They’ve even arrested my customers for simply stepping outside to make calls at night.”
Lukman recounted an incident on November 16, his most recent arrest, where he paid N15,000 for bail. “For my first two arrests, I paid N30,000 and N20,000, respectively,” he said. The fear of these encounters now prevents him from walking home at night. “I often use Uber because I don’t feel safe. We’re supposed to rely on the police for peace and security, but instead, they’ve become the source of fear.”
He expressed frustration at the seeming indifference of the officers, who disregard identification cards and explanations from their victims. “Even if you’re wearing an official uniform or walking home in a group, they won’t listen. If this is their version of ensuring safety, something is terribly wrong.”
Lukman also highlighted the officers’ use of a nearby PoS vendor for bail transactions. Victims are required to transfer money to the vendor instead of directly to the officers. “I don’t know if the vendor is working with them, but whenever they knock on her shop, she comes out to handle the transactions.”
He identified two officers, Benjamin and Dare, as frequently leading the arrests. Lukman questioned the legality and morality of their actions. “If these raids are genuinely about reducing crime, why are people with valid IDs still being targeted? Why are the raids so focused on extorting money?”
When FIJ contacted CSP Redengha Tamarauebi Timpah, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ketu Division, for a response, he justified the operations as efforts to curb crimes associated with the festive season. “You know how things are during Christmas in Ketu, where people snatch bags and phones,” he said. He invited FIJ to visit his office for further discussions, adding that the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Command could provide more detailed information.
Despite the DPO’s assurances, Lukman’s story paints a troubling picture of systemic abuse and exploitation by those entrusted with public safety. The arrests, rather than providing security, have turned into a source of fear and financial exploitation for citizens like him. “We are no longer safe,” he concluded. “The very people meant to protect us are the ones taking away our peace.”
Credit: FIJ