A viral video has sparked outrage after it captured the moment a policeman demanded either ₦5,000 or five litres of fuel from motorists for failing to provide a proof of Electronic Central Motor Registry.
Recall that in July 2024, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, suspended the enforcement of ECMR registration for vehicle owners in the country after an outcry from Nigerians, who accused the police of creating an opportunity to extort vehicle owners.
The footage, shared on Sunday by X.com user Teniola (@Teeniiola), shows the officer confronting a group of travellers along the Benin Bypass, asking for the ECMR.
In the video, one travellers firmly told the officer that demanding ECMR enforcement was illegal.
The officer responded, saying, “You can make call now.”
When the traveller declined to call anyone, asking instead, “What do you want us to do?” the officer demanded five litres of fuel, stating, “We’ll go and buy it, that’s 5k.”
“You want 5k from each of us abi?” The traveler asked, as the policeman was seen telling another traveller to bring three litres of fuel.
The video has reignited concerns over extortion and misconduct by law enforcement officials, despite prior directives from police leadership.
Reacting to the video, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Edafe Bright, condemned the officer’s actions, posting on X, “My God. Thanks for recording this. Little by little, all the moles will be taken out of the system.
“All these Policemen bringing shame to us, one by one, they will be sent out of the organisation. Maybe when they become jobless, they will go into content creation. This is embarrassing and the force is on it.
