MICHAEL AKINOLA
Serious allegations of extortion and abuse of power have emerged against officers at the Ogombo Police Division, with multiple reports claiming that accident victims are being financially exploited before their cases are addressed.
P.M.EXPRESS reports following testimonies from victims and eyewitnesses along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, that officers attached to the division have allegedly turned accident cases into opportunities for profit.
Victims say that instead of facilitating swift dispute resolution between parties, Police officers impose a series of unofficial payments before any settlement process can begin.
In one troubling account, a survivor narrated how, after a road accident, an inspector at the division compelled him to make several questionable payments. The officer allegedly demanded ₦60,000 purportedly for the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), another ₦60,000 for preparing a Police report, and ₦100,000 for himself as the Investigating Police Officer (IPO).
The situation worsened when the injured victim was reportedly detained overnight in an overcrowded cell in deplorable condition, before being asked to pay an additional ₦200,000 for bail.
Detention conditions have also sparked outrage. Reports indicate that the toilet facility used by detainees has broken down, forcing inmates to endure the stench of human waste. Detainees are allegedly packed into cramped, overcrowded spaces, with some collapsing due to the harsh environment and mental strain.
“When those entrusted to protect life begin to profit from suffering, society must pause and ask a painful question: Who protects the people from those meant to protect them?” a concerned resident said.
After eventually settling with the other party involved, who had lost a loved one, the victim said he paid a total of ₦420,000 to the Police, excluding the private settlement. He described the financial burden as devastating, leaving him struggling to recover both physically and economically.
Legal experts and civil society advocates stress that bail in Nigeria is legally free and should not be monetized under any guise. They warn that such practices not only violate citizens’ rights but also erode public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
Calls are growing for immediate intervention by the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to investigate these allegations and hold any culpable officers accountable. Observers insist that accident scenes and related cases must be handled with urgency, compassion, and professionalism, not treated as avenues for exploitation.
As scrutiny intensifies, many Nigerians are demanding reforms to ensure law enforcement returns to its core mandate: protecting lives, upholding justice, and serving the public with integrity.