Police arrest operatives for allegedly assaulting man over ₦1m bribe
Police officers have been arrested for allegedly assaulting a man after he refused to pay a ₦1 million bribe over an expired tinted vehicle permit.
The incident was confirmed by the police command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, who stated that the officers have been detained and will face disciplinary action. She added that the commissioner of police has ordered a full investigation and assigned the command’s monitoring team to the case.
The alleged assault gained public attention through videos on social media. One video showed the victim, identified as Cletus Onyekachi, with a bleeding head, insisting he had done nothing wrong.
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In another video filmed after he received medical treatment, Onyekachi recounted how the assault began when officers stopped him on Igbo-Etche Road.
He claimed the officers demanded ₦1 million after pointing out that his tinted permit had expired on August 12. When he offered ₦20,000, they allegedly rejected it, accused him of being a criminal, and assaulted him.
According to Onyekachi, one officer slapped and pushed him to the ground, then stepped on his head. He also alleged that the officers beat his brother and a female passenger, tearing her clothes and handbag after accusing her of recording them.
Onyekachi said the assault left him unconscious. His brother was reportedly handcuffed, taken away, and later released on the roadside. Images released by the police spokesperson showed blood on Onyekachi’s face.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about police misconduct and extortion. Similar cases have been reported recently, including the arrest of officers in Delta State for assaulting a man and the dismissal of an officer who fatally shot a man over a ₦100 bribe in 2023.
These events add to public frustration over persistent abuse by security operatives despite official sanctions.
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