Loading ...ONITSHA, NIGERIA — Severe public condemnation and demands for disciplinary action have hit the Anambra State Police Command after a citizen whistleblower, identified as Kasie, exposed a disturbing incident of corruption and lack of empathy involving officers attached to the Awada Police Division.
According to a viral video and testimony shared online, the officers deliberately ignored a life-and-death medical emergency, prioritizing financial extortion over saving a human life.
Emergency Ignored For Bribe
The crisis unfolded when a local citizen used his motorcycle (Okada) to rush a heavily pregnant neighbor, who was already in active labor, toward a nearby hospital for emergency delivery.
Despite the visible medical emergency and frantic explanations from both the rider and the laboring woman, the patrol team stationed in the Awada axis intercepted the motorcycle. Rather than providing an emergency escort or fast-tracking their transit to the hospital, the operational team forcibly halted the vehicle, ordered the distressed woman off, and immediately impounded the motorcycle.
Extortion Despite Valid Documentation
Left with no choice, the rider had to scramble to ensure his neighbor reached the medical facility through alternative means before returning to the police station to reclaim his livelihood.
Despite presenting a complete set of valid vehicle licenses, custom clearings, and registration papers to the desk officers, the police leadership at the division reportedly refused to release the motorcycle unconditionally. The rider was forced to part with a hefty ₦20,000 cash payment before his property was eventually let go.
| Incident Dynamics | Fact Sheet of the Awada Extortion Scandal |
| Location of Incident | Awada Police Jurisdiction, near Onitsha, Anambra State |
| The Emergency | Conveying a neighbor in active labor to an emergency ward |
| Police Response | Intercepted the vehicle, ignored the emergency, and impounded the bike |
| Extortion Toll | ₦20,000 forcefully collected despite complete legal documentation |
Activists Demand Immediate Sanctions
The video documenting the rider’s ordeal has triggered a wave of anger across Nigerian digital spaces, with civil rights advocates citing it as a classic example of institutional rot within local police formations.
Watchdogs have tagged the official handle of the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, demanding that the Anambra State Commissioner of Police immediately track down the patrol team on duty during the incident.
Activists are insisting that the ₦20,000 be tracked, recovered, and returned to the commercial rider, while the officers involved should face orderly room trials and immediate suspension for conduct unbecoming of law enforcement agents.
