Lagos Commissioner Of Police Orders Removal Of DPO For Extortion, Initiates Orderly Room Trial

A Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Lagos State has been relieved of his duty, along with some of his subordinates, due to allegations of extortion. The DPO, whose name has not been disclosed, was in charge of the Meiran Police Station in Lagos State.

The decision to remove the DPO was made by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, following allegations of extortion against him and some police officers. An orderly room trial for the implicated officers reportedly began at the police headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.

The trouble began when an engineer, Ibrahim Saliu, claimed that some police officers attached to the Meiran Police Station extorted N200,000 from him. Saliu alleged that the officers, including the DPO, threatened him and his brother with imprisonment if they didn’t provide receipts for their phones. They eventually agreed to pay N200,000 to secure their release.

Police extortion of civilians has been a long-standing issue in Nigeria, despite directives aimed at curbing such behavior. Incidents like these have been a cause of concern and have fueled calls for police reform in the country.