December 21st, 2023 – In a move aimed at upholding the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force, the Oyo State Command has swiftly fired two police officers who were caught on camera demanding money from a Dutch female biker tourist. The incident, which occurred on December 7, gained widespread attention after a video of the encounter went viral on social media platforms.
The dismissed officers, identified as Jimoh Lukman and Kareem Fatai, were paraded at the Oyo State Police Command in Eleyele, Ibadan, the state capital, following the orders of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Adebola Hamzat. The Commissioner, speaking on Thursday, announced the immediate dismissal of the constabularies for engaging in extortion.
“I affirm the recommended punishment of dismissal for the two police special constabularies, Kareem Fatai and Jimoh Abdul-Lukman. I hereby pronounce both of them dismissed from the police special constabulary. They will cease to be members of the special constabulary with immediate effect,” Commissioner Adebola Hamzat declared during the press briefing.
The video, which captured the officers demanding money from a Dutch tourist riding a power bike from the Netherlands to Abuja, revealed a troubling interaction. In the footage, the officers inquire about the tourist’s nationality before proceeding to demand money.
“What did you bring for us? What will you give me? Just give me something,” the taller officer is heard saying in the video.
The Dutch tourist, on her way to Abuja, identified herself as being from the Netherlands, seemingly surprising the officers. In the 1:26-minute video, the officers persistently ask the woman for money in pidgin English, saying, “Wetin you bring come? Wetin you won give me. O yah, give me something, nah.”
The tourist, initially seeming not to comprehend the officers’ message, eventually asks, “Why?” when they explicitly demand, “Give me money, money.”
To further confirm their exit from constabulary service, the two officers were stripped of the Nigerian Police uniform, symbolising the immediate termination of their roles within the force.
Commissioner Adebola Hamzat highlighted that the decision to dismiss the constabularies followed a recommendation from the orderly room investigation. He stressed the Inspector General of Police’s (IGP) zero-tolerance stance towards corrupt practices within the Nigerian police, emphasising that such embarrassing conduct would not be condoned by any officer.
In a surprising turn, Commissioner Hamzat revealed that the two dismissed constabularies would not face prosecution in court since they were not originally trained officers of the Nigerian police. This revelation raises questions about the training and oversight mechanisms for special constabularies, prompting calls for a thorough review of recruitment and accountability processes within the force.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining public trust in law enforcement agencies and the need for continuous efforts to eradicate corruption within the police force. As the video continues to circulate online, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact public perceptions of the police force in Oyo State and beyond.
