Police Arrest Officer Who Killed A Citizen For Failing To Pay 200 Naira Extortion
Now seen as a norm, drivers must pay a partly sum monthly or give cash at a spot each day or each turn.
The money is an ‘official’ extortion fee by the Nigerian Police. They take the extortion token seriously, and there is no pass for any driver without the money, mostly 100 or 200 per turn.
Benalayefa Bako Asiayei met his death for not having 200 at the spot he was stopped by the Nigerian Police. According to Punch Metro, the driver said he had no money when he was stopped because he picked only one passenger.
Furthermore, it was believed he explained that he had paid the 200 had he had full load.
Most officers coordinate with drivers or allow drivers with one or two passengers a pass. But in a situation your bus or car is fully loaded, paying the 200 extortion fee is a must.
Argument often starts when an officer demands payment from empty bus or car.
The victim this time was a 40 years electrician that also included transportation to increase his financial output.
After his electrical work, or a period there was no work or contract, he ventures into transportation to make ends meet.
On the very day of his demise in the hands of the trigger happy policeman, he had just one passenger and couldn’t pay his 200 extortion.
The shooting was done by Operation Doo Akpo, a Bayelsa State police squad. An officer drafted into the squad shot him while he was returning from work in with his Toyota Sienna in the night.
The altercation happened because he had a passenger and the officer requested 200 Naira extortion.
He was from Delta State, Burutu Local Government Area, Bobougbene precisely.
The officer could had eecaped justice if it were not to be the presence of citizens who turned on their phone cameras to record the incident and the policeman was on record.
His fellow officers had arrested him immediately the shooting occurred, but later allowed him to escape without reporting to the police station.
Police confirmed it was an escape but citizens that followed the incident said his escape was planned by his colleagues.
The incident which happened on Tuesday was followed up by the family of the victim. The family mounted significant pressure on the Bayelsa State police to intervene and bring the happy trigger police office to justice and their pressure paid off.
“We are calling on the Governor of Bayelsa State. Douye Diri, and the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, as a matter of urgency, bring to book the policeman who shot Bena to death to face the law, and also calling on the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide to take necessary action against police brutality in Bayelsa State” the family wrote.
Police brutality has become a prevalent issue in Nigeria. The situation boiled over four years ago, when end SARS protests nearly crippled the country or turned into a spring.
The murderous intervention of Nigerian army was able to dispatch the teeming crowd, after the protest deteriorated into chaos.
Nigerian Police officers have not learned from the event, even though police stations and officers across the country were targeted during the end SARS protest. Police brutality is still prevalent.
Reacting to the incident, PUNCH metro reported that it contacted Nigerian police through the Police Public Relations Officer, that he confirmed arrest has been made and the matter is under investigation.
Nigerian police said the officer will face internal disciplinary action. The phrase is strange, owing to the fact law courts often take care of such incidents.
Police officer that kills innocent citizen is charged and prosecuted by a court of competent jurisdiction and not internally disciplined.
