On September 12, 2024, a student from Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, became a victim of police brutality and extortion.
According to our reporter the student was returning from an ATM withdrawal when he was accosted by Inspector Abdullahi Abbas, Sergeant Alhassan Yahaya, and Sergeant Ogarh Umoru. The officers reportedly threatened the student with a rifle and forced him into their vehicle.
The officers drove the student to a different location, where they confiscated his iPhone, laptop, and ₦20,000 in cash. When the student refused to transfer more funds, Inspector Abbas allegedly assaulted him. The officers held the student in detention, continuing their unlawful actions until his release around 11 p.m.
Despite reporting the incident to the Area D police station, no significant action has been taken. This case underscores the ongoing issues of police corruption and brutality in Nigeria, drawing attention to the broader human rights abuses within the Nigeria Police Force, as previously highlighted by Human Rights Watch in 2010
