Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A student of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), identified as Salami Michael, has alleged that he was unlawfully arrested, assaulted and extorted of N600,000 by a police officer in Lagos State, with his mobile phone allegedly seized and retained by the police.
The allegations were contained in a petition submitted by the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Ikorodu North Unit II, to the Nigeria Police Force over the alleged conduct of officers involved in the incident.
According to a report published by Blueprint on October 2, 2026, the petition was dated September 26 and addressed to the Area Commander, Area N Command, Ijede, Ikorodu. It was signed by the CDHR coordinator, Comrade Bamiro Adeboye.
The human rights organisation alleged that Michael was travelling with his father around Ewu-Agbo, Gberigbe, Lagos State, when a police officer identified as Iku-Kenny stopped him.
CDHR alleged that the officer accused the university student of being a thief and a “Yahoo boy” before handcuffing him and taking him to a police station.
The organisation further alleged that Michael’s mobile phone was seized during the incident and that officers demanded his password, allowing them to access private information stored on the device, including photographs.
The petition also alleged that the student was assaulted while in police custody and sustained injuries.
According to the account contained in the petition, the police initially demanded N10 million for Michael’s release. The amount was subsequently negotiated down to N600,000, which his family allegedly paid in cash.
CDHR said that although the student’s SIM card was eventually returned, his mobile phone remained in police custody.
The organisation further alleged that the incident did not end with the initial arrest in Lagos. It claimed that Michael was later arrested at Okuku Police Division in Osun State based on information allegedly obtained from the mobile phone seized during the earlier encounter.
The allegations have prompted the rights organisation to call for an investigation into the conduct of the officers involved and the circumstances surrounding the arrest, alleged assault, payment and continued possession of the student's phone.
The case has also raised concerns about the treatment of young Nigerians during police encounters, particularly allegations involving arbitrary arrest, demands for money and access to private information on mobile devices.
The allegation of a N10 million initial demand, followed by an alleged payment of N600,000, is one of the most serious elements of the petition. However, the amount and circumstances surrounding the alleged payment remain allegations made by CDHR on behalf of the student and his family and have not been independently established in the available report.
The identity of the police officer referred to as Iku-Kenny was also reported as part of the petition. The available account does not establish whether the officer has been formally investigated, disciplined or charged over the allegations.
The allegations come at a time when concerns over police accountability and alleged extortion continue to feature prominently in public discussions in Nigeria. In a separate Lagos incident reported by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism in March 2026, police officers were accused of extorting N100,000 from a student during a stop-and-search encounter. Following the report and intervention by the Police Complaint Response Unit, the money was returned to the student.
However, that separate case involved different individuals and circumstances and should not be treated as confirmation of the allegations involving Michael.
The present case also comes several years after the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters documented complaints involving allegations of unlawful arrest and assault by police personnel. One of the cases recorded by the panel involved an officer identified as “Iku Kenny,” although the available report does not establish that the officer named in Michael’s 2026 petition is the same individual referenced in the earlier panel proceedings.
For Michael, the allegations centre on what he says happened during a journey with his father in Lagos and the subsequent consequences of the alleged seizure of his phone.
CDHR is seeking official attention to the matter and an investigation into the allegations. The available report does not contain a substantive response from the Nigeria Police Force addressing the specific claims made in the September 26 petition.
The allegations therefore remain subject to investigation and verification by the appropriate authorities. No finding of criminal liability has been established against the officer or any other police personnel in connection with the claims.
The case highlights the importance of due process, accountability and respect for the rights of citizens during police operations. It also underscores the need for complaints involving alleged unlawful arrest, assault, extortion and seizure of personal property to be properly investigated, with responsibility established where wrongdoing is proven.
As of the latest available report, CDHR's petition remains the principal public account of the allegations, while the response of the police authorities and the outcome of any investigation will be crucial in determining what occurred and whether any officers will face disciplinary or legal action.
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