- Safiu Kehinde
A Lagos-based social media influencer known by his X handle as Osasi Picture, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of policemen in Ikorodu who demanded N5 million for his release while threatening to kill him.
In what he labelled one of the most traumatic moments in his life, Osasi, in a post on his X handle on Sunday, recounted how he was stopped by the police in Ikorodu area of Lagos on Saturday night.
The officers who he claimed were not in official uniform accused him of being a cultist and demanded they search his car.
“Today, I experienced one of the most traumatic moments of my life. I had gone to a friend’s place to lend him my MacBook charger because I stay in Ikorodu his charger had stopped working.
“After leaving his place and heading home, I was stopped by men who identified themselves as Nigerian police officers.
“They were not dressed in standard police uniforms, which made the situation even more frightening. I was forcefully pushed into my car, accused of being a cultist without any evidence, and subjected to intimidation.
“My phone was searched, I was threatened, and I was repeatedly told that if I did not cooperate, I would be shot, killed, or have my car taken away.” He said.
Osasi further recalled being driven around different locations amid continued threat.
He was forced to call his friends to raise N5 million for his release after extorting him of the N700,000 they founs in his account.
“They drove me around to different locations, including from Ikorodu to ketu under a bridge, while continuing to threaten me.
“Under fear for my life, I was forced to open my banking apps and make transfers. In total, about ₦700,000 was taken from my account through coercion.
“They wanted me to pay them 5 million which I don’t even have, they also forced me to call friends and demand money from them, insisting that I raise millions of naira despite having committed no crime.
“This was not a voluntary transaction. Every action I took was because I genuinely feared for my life.
“I am sharing this video because no Nigerian should have to experience this.
“No one should be threatened with weapons, intimidated, or forced to hand over their hard-earned money by people who are supposed to protect them.” He wrote.
Screenshots of the transaction showed how he transferred the money to three different accounts called by the police.
He initially transferred N256,000 to an OPay account with the name Busola Opeyemi Olasore.
The second transfer of another N256,000 was done to a Moniepoint account with the name Juliet and Chris Junior Enterprise while the third transaction of N206,000 was also sent to a Moniepoint account with the name Adejoke Ajewole.
