LAGOS, NIGERIA — A viral video has sparked intense public concern as a woman is seen crying out for help from the Mile 2 Police Station, alleging she is being framed for kidnapping and pressured to pay for her freedom.
The woman, who recorded the video while in custody, claimed her ordeal began after she attempted to help a young girl who complained about being forced into sex work. According to her, the girl had begged for assistance to return home, but the situation took a dark turn when they were intercepted by individuals in a car. At that point, the girl allegedly changed her story, accusing the woman of attempting to traffic her to Cameroon.
The “Pay or Stay” Ultimatum
The woman further alleged that since being brought to the Mile 2 station, police officers have ignored her side of the story and are instead demanding a large sum of money. She claimed the officers threatened to “bury the case” by locking her up indefinitely if she failed to meet their financial demands.
“They are telling me to pay money or I will be locked up,” she cried in the video. “I was only trying to help a child, but now I am the one being called a kidnapper.”
Pattern of Extortion in Mile 2
The allegation comes on the heels of several reports of professional misconduct involving police teams operating around the Mile 2 and Ajao Estate axis. Just last week, the Lagos State Police Command was forced to launch an investigation after a motorist reported being extorted of ₦200,000 at gunpoint by a team using an unregistered minibus near the NAHCO bridge.
Public reaction to the video has been swift, with many Nigerians on social media calling on the Commissioner of Police and the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) to intervene immediately.
Official Stance
While the Lagos State Police Command has frequently stated its zero-tolerance policy for extortion, the increasing frequency of “framed” cases and roadside “trials” has eroded public confidence. As of Sunday morning, the Command has not issued a specific statement regarding the woman’s claims at the Mile 2 station.
Advocates are now demanding a transparent investigation into the girl’s claims and the conduct of the officers involved, warning that using kidnapping allegations as a tool for extortion is a dangerous trend that could lead to the jungle justice of innocent citizens.
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