In a rare instance of internal accountability, a senior official of the Nigeria Police Force has intervened after a junior officer was caught in the act of extorting motorists at a roadside checkpoint.
The incident, which drew widespread attention on social media earlier this week, saw the junior officer demanding cash from passing road users before allowing them to continue their journey.
The senior officer — whose name and rank have not been publicly disclosed — was alerted to the misconduct via a viral video showing the junior officer counting bundles of cash alleged to have been collected from motorists.
Upon reviewing the evidence, the senior official immediately ordered that the junior officer be detained and that internal disciplinary proceedings begin.
The Nigeria Police Force has repeatedly dealt with similar misconduct in recent years, including cases where officers were dismissed or detained for extortion captured on video, with several being required to report to Force Headquarters for disciplinary action after viral exposure.
Police leadership officials emphasise that extortion and bribery remain criminal offences under the Police Act and have reiterated warnings that officers found soliciting or accepting money from the public will be sanctioned.
This internal intervention follows months of public pressure for meaningful reforms and greater accountability, as Nigerians continue to report routine harassment and extortion at checkpoints and traffic stops.
While details of the ongoing disciplinary review — including whether the junior officer will face dismissal or prosecution — are still emerging, the swift action by the senior officer has been welcomed by rights advocates as a step toward rebuilding public trust.
Critics maintain, however, that isolated disciplinary actions must be backed by broader systemic reforms to curb what they describe as endemic bribery within the force.
