The PUNCH gathered that the barber was returning from the Federal Registry in the Ikoyi area of the state when the policemen stopped the Uber driver conveying him to his destination for a search.
Narrating his ordeal in a series of posts on Twitter, @alilmoonn said the driver obliged their request, adding that during the search, the policemen found nothing incriminating in the vehicle.
The barber, however, noted that things took another turn when the policemen instructed him to step out of the vehicle, took him into the vehicle they were using for patrol, accused him of being a fraudster and, thereafter, threatened to hand him over to the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He wrote, “In my life, I have never been this scared; I was abused today by the Nigerian policemen. They were four men plus the driver. As I was coming back from the Federal Registry at Ikoyi, these men stopped my Uber driver and asked him to open his boot, and he did.
“The policemen found nothing; the other one asked me to come down and meet their boss; I did, and the boss asked me to enter a car they’re using to patrol. They carried me and said they wanted to report me to the EFCC. I’m a barber by profession, and I have my certificate.
“I’m innocent, these men pressed me to the extent that I couldn’t breathe, and I was begging them so I could take air, but they refused. They said I’m using an iPhone 14 Pro Max and that I’m into fraud. I swear on my life I have never done anything like that in my life!”
The barber said the policemen seized his phone and demanded N2 million for him to regain his freedom, adding that despite pleading with the policemen to set him free, they refused.
He added, “I told them that I don’t have that amount they’re requesting, and I pleaded for them to stop, but they never listened! It’s so sad, Nigeria. So, the man checked my UBA balance and found out I didn’t have such an amount and he told them to collect N100,000 from me.
“I did nothing, they didn’t see any fraud activity in my phone. The man said if I did not pay, they would beat me or take me to the EFCC and lock me up. I was begging, I told them it was my hard-earned money. Nigeria is hard and these men are still making it unbearable for us. It’s very sad.
“They took the N100,000 from my bank. I couldn’t take pictures of the police because they were with my phones. I only have the picture from the POS slip. These men are in Second Rainbow, Lagos State. I need my N100,00 back.”
The barber attached the receipt of the N100,000 transaction to the post.
Reacting to @alilmoonn’s post, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “Just as we discussed on the phone, follow through with the Area Commander’s advice and keep us updated. We will not be deterred in our resolve to rid the Force of bad eggs. We will not!”
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, while also reacting to the post, wrote, “This is receiving attention from the CP Lagos, and I am sure necessary action will be taken.”
