Six police officers from the Edo State Command have been arrested and are currently facing orderly room trial at the Force Headquarters in Abuja following allegations of extorting motorists along the Benin bypass.

According to a statement posted on the Nigeria Police Force's official X account, the arrest is in line with the Force's zero-tolerance policy on extortion and unprofessional conduct by its personnel.

The officers, along with their supervising officer, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), were summoned to Abuja where they were marched before the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.

IGP Egbetokun reportedly condemned their actions as "shameful, distasteful and utterly unacceptable" and immediately ordered the commencement of disciplinary procedures against all involved officers.

"The officers have been queried, while orderly room trials for the Inspectors implicated in the video have commenced," the statement read. "This reiterates the Force's commitment to upholding professionalism, integrity and accountability."

How the Officers Were Exposed

The misconduct came to light after an X (formerly Twitter) user recorded and posted a video showing the officers' illicit activities. In the viral footage, one officer was captured demanding an undisclosed amount of money or five litres of fuel from motorists who could not provide proof of Electronic Central Motor Registry (ECMR) along the Benin bypass.

The Nigeria Police Force has assured the public that such misconduct will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and appropriate sanctions will be imposed in accordance with established disciplinary procedures.

This incident comes amid ongoing efforts by the current police administration to reform the Force and improve its public image, particularly regarding roadside extortion which has long been a source of public complaints against the police in Nigeria.

The case has drawn significant attention on social media, with many Nigerians commending the swift action taken by the police authorities while calling for more comprehensive measures to address systemic corruption within the Force.