Several officers from the Ogun State Police Command have been detained for allegedly demanding bribes from the family of a missing seven-year-old girl before taking action on the case.
Muyiwa Adejobi, the Public Relations Officer for the Nigeria Police Force, announced the arrests on social media, emphasizing the force’s intolerance for such behavior.
“The policemen who demanded money before they could attend to the case have been arrested and are now in detention for disciplinary action,” Adejobi stated. “We condemn such an act and will not tolerate it. It is inhuman, apathetic, and unprofessional.”
The officers’ conduct came to light after the mother of the missing girl reported that she had been asked to pay ₦10,000 to file a report and an additional ₦30,000 to track the suspected kidnapper’s phone number. The seven-year-old, the daughter of a point-of-sale operator, was allegedly abducted by a regular customer who lured her with food and sent her on an errand before disappearing with her.
Adejobi reassured the public of the command’s commitment to finding the missing child. “The Ogun State Police Command has been on the case. The girl will be found as soon as possible. We also urge the family of the victim to cooperate with the police,” he added.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about police corruption in Nigeria, even as the force takes steps to address unprofessional behavior. The swift arrest and detention of the officers involved have been seen as a move to restore public confidence and ensure justice for the victim’s family.
The case remains under investigation, and efforts to locate the missing girl continue.
