ASABA — Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu has reignited public outrage by bringing fresh attention to a harrowing case where police officers allegedly kidnapped National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and extorted a staggering N10 million from them.
While the original incident occurred along the East-West Road in Bayelsa State, Gwamnishu revealed this weekend that he is pushing for full accountability and the final results of the internal trials for the officers involved.
The Highway Abduction
The nightmare began when the corps members, while traveling toward Mbiama, were intercepted by officers attached to the Surveillance Unit of AIG Zone 16. Instead of a routine check, the encounter turned into a coordinated shakedown. The officers reportedly forced the youth corps members to a secluded location where they were held until they produced N10 million in cash.
“It was essentially a kidnapping carried out in uniform,” one advocate stated. The sheer scale of the extortion—N10 million taken from young graduates serving their country—has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian social media space.
The Recovery and the Silence
Following the intervention of Gwamnishu and the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU), the full sum of N10 million was eventually recovered and returned to the victims. However, the activist is now raising alarms over the lack of transparency regarding the fate of the rogue officers.
Gwamnishu, who recently faced his own legal battles and brief detention in Edo State, remains adamant that returning the money is not enough. He is demanding that the Nigeria Police Force make public the outcome of the “Orderly Room” trials to prove that these officers have been dismissed or prosecuted.
A Pattern of Rogue Policing
The NYSC case is not an isolated incident. Just weeks ago, Gwamnishu successfully forced officers in Anambra to refund N1.4 million extorted from four other citizens. These recurring scandals have fueled a growing sense of distrust toward the force, with many Nigerians questioning how officers on patrol can comfortably demand and process such massive sums of money without detection from their superiors.
Police Response
The Force Headquarters has previously acknowledged the recovery of the funds and stated that disciplinary actions were initiated. However, with the case now back in the spotlight, the pressure is on the Police High Command to provide evidence that justice has been served beyond a simple refund.
As the story gains fresh momentum, the NYSC directorate has yet to issue a new statement on the safety of its members who frequently travel the nation’s increasingly dangerous highways.
