I'm Receiving Several Reports Of Police Indiscriminate Arrest, Torture Of Nigerians In Southern States – Inibehe Effiong Says

Inibehe Effiong, the Nigerian human rights lawyer, has sounded the alarm over the rampant harassment, torture, and arrest of Nigerians by police officers, allegedly aimed at extorting money, particularly in the southern states.

Effiong, who took to his X handle on Saturday to voice his concerns over the level of extortion going on in the South, warned that a country that allows the police to continually molest, kill, and extort its citizens is on the verge of collapse.

SaharaReporters reported earlier on Saturday that the Nigerian Police Force issued a warning to the public to exercise caution when dealing with individuals claiming to have connections with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, or other senior officers.

According to the Force, some unscrupulous individuals were misusing the name and office of the IGP to perpetrate illegal activities, including extortion and intimidation.

The police said that the scammers claimed to have the IGP's approval or backing to carry out their nefarious activities, and condemned this trend, describing it as alarming and unprofessional.

The warning was contained in a public notice by the Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi titled: "misuse of name, office of the Inspector-General of Police".

Lamenting the development, Effiong revealed that he had received close to 10 reports in the past 48 hours from Nigerians in different parts of the country about indiscriminate harassment, torture, and arrests by the police.

He wrote, "I have received close to 10 reports in the past 48 hours from Nigerians in different parts of the country about indiscriminate harassment, torture, and arrests by the police.

"Police officers are ostensibly trying to get money illegally for Christmas and new year celebrations.

"None of these reports is from the Northern States. The complaints are mostly from the South-West, South-South and South-East.

"A country that allows the police to continually molest, kill, and extort its citizens is headed for the precipice."

I have received close to 10 reports in the past 48 hours from Nigerians in different parts of the country about indiscriminate harassment, torture, and arrests by the police.

Police officers are ostensibly trying to get money illegally for Christmas and new year celebrations.…

— Inibehe Effiong (@InibeheEffiong) December 28, 2024