Viral Video: Policeman Extorts Travellers Despite ECMR Suspension—Police React”

A Nigerian police officer has been caught on camera allegedly demanding ₦5,000 or five litres of fuel from a group of travellers who couldn’t present proof of their Electronic Central Motor Registry (ECMR) registration.

The incident, which reportedly took place along the Benin Bypass, has sparked outrage online after a video of the encounter went viral on social media.

Officer Demands Fuel Despite ECMR Suspension

In the footage, the officer is seen confronting the travellers and insisting they provide ECMR documentation. When told that the ECMR enforcement had been suspended in 2024 by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the officer refused to back down.

“You can make call now,” the officer said in response to a traveller’s attempt to report the incident.

When pressed on what he wanted in exchange for letting them go, the officer stated, “We’ll go and buy it, that’s 5k”, suggesting a fuel bribe. One traveller responded, “You want 5k from each of us abi?”, to which the officer didn’t object.

The ECMR registration had previously drawn criticism nationwide, with many Nigerians accusing the police of using the policy as a tool for roadside extortion.

Police Reacts: “This Is Embarrassing”

Reacting swiftly to the viral video, Delta State Police Command spokesperson, SP Edafe Bright, condemned the officer’s behavior in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“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 organization. Maybe when they become jobless, they’ll go into content creation. This is embarrassing, and the force is on it.”

The video has sparked renewed calls for reform and accountability within the Nigerian Police Force, especially in the handling of policies like ECMR. Many Nigerians online are demanding disciplinary action against the officer involved.

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