Ondo Police Detains Officer After Alleged Extortion, Ethnic Slur Video Goes Viral

A police officer in Nigeria has been taken into custody following the emergence of a video online that purportedly shows him making an ethnically charged statement during a vehicle document check. The viral footage, widely shared across social media platforms, depicts the officer scrutinizing a motorist's vehicle papers and driver's licence. He is then seen allegedly holding onto the driver's licence after returning the other documents.

When the bewildered motorist inquired why his licence had not been handed back, the officer reportedly made a gesture that implied a demand for money. Following this, he allegedly told the driver, “If you were Igbo or someone else, I would have detained you.” The driver maintained that all his documents were valid and complete. The officer subsequently claimed that the goods being transported lacked a waybill, a claim the driver refuted, insisting that customs duties for the items had already been settled after an inspection.

The incident quickly drew widespread condemnation online, with many Nigerians criticizing both the purported extortion attempt and the officer's offensive ethnic remark. In response, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that the officer involved had been identified and subsequently detained, pending the commencement of disciplinary proceedings. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, addressed the matter on X, stating, “Good Morning Esteemed, The Ondo State Police Command @OndoPoliceNg has identified the team and necessary action is ongoing. We say #notoimpunity #citizensaretheboss.” As of now, the police have not disclosed further details regarding the disciplinary measures to be taken or the eventual outcome of their ongoing investigation.