They Threatened To Torture, Make Me Disappear - Nasarawa Student Narrates Harassment, Extortion By Police Squad

A student in Nasarawa State has accused officers of the Nigeria Police Force of harassment, intimidation, and extortion, alleging that he was coerced into transferring money to them under duress.

The victim, identified as Attah Peter Williams, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, August 16, 2025, between 1:30 am and 2:30 am at a police checkpoint around College Gate, Ombi 2, Lafia.

According to his account, he was returning to his lodge at Pinnacle Hotel, Kwandere Road, Lafia, after buying a mal drink and water, when police operatives who introduced themselves as members of the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cult Squad, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Shendam Road, Lafia, stopped him.

“I was stopped at a police checkpoint by officers who identified themselves as members of the Anti-Cult Squad. The bike man (commercial motorcyclist) I was with was released, while I was detained,” Williams narrated.

“The officers demanded my phone, which I surrendered under duress. My device was unlawfully searched. Despite finding nothing incriminating, one officer accused me of being a cultist and threatened that if I did not ‘cooperate,’ I would be detained, tortured, or taken to a place ‘I would never come out from.’”

Williams said the officers compelled him to transfer N25,000 to an Opay account linked to one of them and also collected N12,000 cash from his pocket, bringing the total amount extorted to ₦37,000.

He added that he has evidence to back his claims, including hotel lodge payment records and three witnesses to confirm his movements that night.

According to Williams, he also has evidence of bank transfer records of the N25,000 sent to the officer’s Opay account, precise details of the checkpoint location, and identification of the suspected police unit.

He identified the suspected unit as “Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cult Squad, SCID, Shendam Road, Lafia (Coordinates: FGR8+MJ5, Shendam Road, Lafia 950101, Nasarawa)”.

Williams is demanding an immediate investigation, a refund of his money, and protection for himself and his witnesses, citing fears of retaliation from the officers involved.

Williams called for the “immediate investigation into the officers stationed at Ombi 2, College Gate checkpoint during the above timeframe, recovery of my extorted funds, protection for myself and my witnesses, as I fear reprisals from the officers involved, and accountability and disciplinary action against the corrupt officers”.