Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Zone 7 in Abuja have been accused of extorting over ₦8.6 million from a group of university students after allegedly branding them internet fraudsters.
The incident reportedly took place in Gwarinpa, Abuja, where the students—said to be from Kogi State—were lodging in a hotel before armed officers stormed the premises. According to sources, the officers forcefully entered the students’ rooms and accused them of engaging in “Yahoo Yahoo” activities.
The victims were subsequently arrested and taken to the Zone 7 Police Command in Wuse Zone 3, where they were allegedly detained, intimidated, and threatened. Sources claimed the students were warned that their situation would worsen if they failed to cooperate.
While in custody, the students were reportedly compelled to transfer a total sum of ₦8,620,000 to a Point of Sale (POS) account allegedly provided by the officers. The POS operator is said to be located directly opposite the police facility, raising concerns about possible collusion.
According to those familiar with the case, the students were only released after completing the payment and were warned against reporting the incident. The threats, sources say, have left the victims too fearful to speak publicly.
The matter has since been reported to the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja by concerned individuals, including a student union leader. However, there are allegations that the officers involved have continued to boast of strong internal connections, which may hinder accountability.
Evidence, including transaction receipts and phone records, has reportedly been submitted as part of the complaint. Efforts to obtain an official response from the investigating officer were unsuccessful, as no comments were provided at the time of reporting.