Policemen ‘kidnapped’ Me, Collected N1m For My Release, Man Alleges

One Mr. Samuel Soyemi has recounted how some men who claimed to be police officers from Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State invaded his house and drove him and his family away in their vehicle.

In what Soyemi described as both an abduction and armed robbery, he said the cops transferred the sum of N1,025,000 from his account before he, his wife and other family members were let go.

Soyemi told PUNCH Metro on Thursday that the incident happened at around 11 p.m. on October 10 when the armed men invaded his house in the Osiele area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

According to him, the police officers accused him of being a ritualist and cultist, an allegation he said was untrue and unfounded.

The young man recalled how the officers drove them to the premises of the Ifo Police Station and asked them to pay a sum of N10m, otherwise, they would not be seen again.

Without going into the station for any documentation, Soyemi said the officers later succeeded in transferring money from his bank account into an Opay account.

“We hardly eat at home as I am talking to you, because I had to borrow the money I sent to them that day. My wife and I are going through hell, with a nine-month-old baby at hand. Everything they took from me is almost N3m, including phones and jewellery. I need justice. We went to Zone 2, but nothing was done about the matter. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, should come to my aid,” he cried out.

Soyemi‘s lawyer, Kayode Aderemi, told our correspondent that a petition had been written to the office of IGP Egbetokun.

A copy of the petition, it was gathered, was also made available to the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, on November 30.

According to a copy of the petition obtained by our correspondent, seven armed men reportedly stormed Soyemi’s residence in Osiele, seizing valuables worth over N2m aside from extorting him to the tune of N1,025,000.

The petition read, “At about 23:00 hours (11:00 p.m.) of October 10th, 2023, seven men stormed our clients’ house at Alanco axis, Osiele, Abeokuta, Ogun State. These men were fully armed with guns. They later identified themselves as police officers from the Police Zonal Command, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State.

“Without stating allegation of any crime against our clients, they ransacked our clients’ two-bedroom flat and took several valuables belonging to our clients. The valuables include a golden bracelet worth N750,000; a diamond earring worth N650,000; an iPhone 11 worth N400,000; a New Age power bank (20 mAh) worth N20,000; and three iPhone chargers worth N6,000 each.

“After all these items were forcefully taken at gunpoint, our clients (a total of six family members) were arrested that same night and driven to the Ifo Police Station, Ogun State.
“While at the Ifo Police station, the police officers told our clients that if they did not transfer the sum of N10,000,000, they would be killed and no one would know, since their arrest at Abeokuta was not documented.

“Afraid for their lives, our clients immediately placed emergency calls to family and friends to request financial support. Then, a total N1,025,000 was immediately transferred to the account provided by one of the officers later identified as Officer Oladapo Olayemi.

“The account that the police officer received the money N1,025,000 is OPay 9126240487, belonging to one Olufunke Ebunoluwa Samuel. Our clients later learned that on the same night, the money was remitted to the Access bank account of Officer Oladapo Olayemi.

“Our clients also informed us that they have reported the matter to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 who has invited them. Our clients have honoured the invitation but that nothing concrete has come out of it.”

In his appeal, the counsel pleaded with Egbetokun to investigate and prosecute the seven police officers “that committed this act tantamount to robbery.”

He also asked that Soyemi’s N1,025,000 and other items taken away be recovered.

Aderemi urged Egbetokun to protect the Soyemis over fear that the cops could return to harm them, “since these seven police officers already know the house and other details of our clients.”

He added, “We are ready and willing to provide statement of account to evince the transactions referenced above should they be required.”

When contacted on Thursday, the FPRO, Adejobi, acknowledged the petition, stating that every petition was treated objectively, especially when the petition bothers on unprofessionalism and corruption.

Asked if any action had been taken, Adejobi expressed assurance that necessary action must have been taken on it, asking the complainant to follow up through police complaint platforms.

“Definitely, every petition is attended to and treated objectively, more so when it borders on unprofessionalism, highhandedness, and corruption.

“I am sure necessary action must have been taken on it. He can also follow up on the case through our complaint platforms,” Adejobi said in a text message.