Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A Bayelsa State trader has accused officers of the Nigeria Police Force serving in the Enugu State Command of extorting money and detaining him unlawfully, a development that has stirred public debate over law enforcement conduct and citizens’ rights in southeastern Nigeria.
Hart Boma Edward, a mobile phone and accessories seller based in Bayelsa State, publicly recounted his ordeal after an encounter with police officers attached to the Enugu Police Command. Edward claims that during a recent visit to Enugu, he was stopped by officers who allegedly demanded money and subsequently detained him without a clear legal basis. His assertions, shared in a widely circulated media report on January 12, 2026, have drawn sharp criticism from civil rights advocates and amplified existing concerns about police misconduct across Nigeria.
According to Edward’s account, the incident began when officers accosted him while he was transiting through Enugu on business. What he described as an initial routine stop escalated into requests for money, which he was pressured to pay under threat of further detention. He alleges that he was held for several days, denied access to family and legal counsel, and released only after paying a significant sum. Although the Enugu Police Command has acknowledged awareness of the allegations and stated that it will examine the matter internally, the episode has intensified scrutiny of policing practices in the region.
The trader’s experience echoes a broader pattern of complaints from Nigerians about police conduct, particularly extortion at checkpoints, unlawful detentions, and arbitrary arrests. Despite reforms initiated after the nationwide #EndSARS protests in 2020, which exposed pervasive abuses by police units such as the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), allegations of coercion and exploitation persist. Critics argue that these issues remain entrenched in everyday policing, especially in areas far from the national spotlight.
Recent media reports have chronicled multiple instances of alleged police extortion and misconduct across the country. In Delta State, for example, police were accused of detaining and extorting church worshippers arrested on New Year’s Eve, with one individual reportedly rearrested after being granted bail. These incidents drew widespread condemnation and suggested a broader challenge within the force regarding discipline and adherence to legal standards.
Public frustration with such practices has fueled calls for more robust oversight and accountability mechanisms. Legal experts have noted that unwarranted detention and extortion violate constitutional protections and undermine trust in law enforcement. Under Nigerian law, authorities are required to ensure that any arrest or detention is supported by legal justification and that suspects’ rights are upheld throughout investigative and judicial processes.
In response to mounting criticism, police leadership across several states has issued warnings to officers against engaging in extortion and other unprofessional conduct. In Bayelsa State, for instance, senior police officials recently dismantled illegal roadblocks along major highways and reiterated a zero-tolerance stance on extortion, harassment, and other forms of misconduct as part of efforts to rebuild public confidence.
Similar directives have been issued in other parts of the country. Police authorities in Kwara State warned officers against extortion and unlawful phone searches, emphasizing that such conduct contravenes both police regulations and citizens’ rights. These measures reflect an ongoing effort by the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen discipline within its ranks and align operational practices with constitutional safeguards.
Nonetheless, civil society groups and legal advocates argue that these efforts have yielded limited results in many regions. They contend that internal disciplinary actions often lack transparency and are insufficient to deter misconduct, citing repeated reports of officers implicated in extortion, arbitrary arrests, and abuse of power. Some have called for the establishment of more independent oversight bodies with the authority to investigate complaints and impose sanctions without undue influence from within the police hierarchy.
Human rights organisations have also underscored the broader societal implications of unchecked policing abuses. They argue that practices such as extortion and illegal detention not only violate individual rights but also erode public trust in institutions, discourage cooperation with law enforcement, and ultimately hamper efforts to maintain law and order. Strengthening accountability, they stress, is essential not only for protecting citizens’ rights but also for enhancing the effectiveness of policing and community safety.
Amid these tensions, the Enugu State Government in recent months has introduced measures targeting illegal tolls and extortion by non-state actors on major roads, reflecting a parallel effort to address harassment and unlawful demands faced by travellers and transporters. While this initiative focuses on non-official extortionists, its implementation underscores broader concerns about unlawful practices that affect mobility, commerce, and personal security in the region.
As official investigations into Edward’s allegations proceed, public attention remains fixed on how the Enugu Police Command will handle the case. Rights advocates have urged transparency throughout the process and demanded that any officers found culpable be held accountable in accordance with the law. They emphasise that restoring public confidence requires not just verbal commitments from senior police officials but demonstrable action that protects citizens from abuse and upholds the principles of justice and accountability.
The unfolding situation in Enugu has also reignited discussion about the broader imperative of police reform in Nigeria. Analysts say that systemic change will require sustained political will, legal reform, and constructive engagement with civil society, communities, and stakeholders. Only through such comprehensive efforts, they argue, can longstanding grievances be effectively addressed, professional standards be strengthened, and trust between law enforcement and the public be genuinely restored.
Whether the outcome of the current investigation will reassure citizens or further deepen scepticism about policing practices remains to be seen. For traders like Hart Boma Edward and many others who feel vulnerable to extortion and arbitrary arrest, the stakes are high — and the demand for justice and reform resonates across communities nationally.
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