A disturbing case of extortion has surfaced in Edo State, Nigeria, where a police officer was caught demanding bribes from motorists under the pretense of enforcing the now-suspended Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) policy. The officer reportedly ordered travellers to either provide five litres of fuel or pay a cash bribe of N5,000 to continue their journey.
The incident, which occurred along a major transit route in Edo, has sparked outrage among citizens and civil society organizations. Multiple eyewitnesses confirmed that the officer stopped vehicles at a checkpoint, falsely claiming that failure to present an e-CMR certificate was a punishable offense, despite the policy’s suspension by the Nigeria Police Force.
Travellers were allegedly forced to choose between purchasing fuel for the officer or parting with N5,000 in cash. This exploitative demand comes amid a national fuel crisis and rising economic hardship, further exacerbating public frustration with law enforcement abuses.
Reacting to the incident, a representative from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja stated, “The actions of the officer do not reflect the values or directives of the Nigeria Police. An internal investigation has been launched, and appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken. We encourage members of the public to report such misconduct with supporting evidence.”