FCT Police Command: Officers Detained Over Abuja N40,000 Extortion

• FCT Police Command officers have been detained following allegations of extorting ₦40,000 from a resident along Wuye-Utako Road in Abuja.
• The incident, which reportedly occurred on August 20, 2026, gained attention via a social media video that circulated around August 24.
• CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi has affirmed a zero-tolerance policy for extortion and misconduct, promising disciplinary and legal action for culpable officers.
• The Command has invited the complainant to provide an official statement to aid the investigation.
• This detention follows previous instances where the FCT Police Command took action against officers for similar misconduct, including extorting the ICPC Chairman.

Any officer found culpable after a thorough investigation will face appropriate disciplinary and legal action, strictly in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has taken officers into custody following allegations of extorting ₦40,000 from a resident in Abuja. The incident, which occurred along Wuye-Utako Road near Salem Church, gained widespread attention after a video depicting the alleged misconduct began circulating on social media around August 24. The video reportedly showed a man claiming that on August 20, 2026, police officers collected the sum from him despite his vehicle documents being complete and in order. The complainant further provided footage, including a receipt and a recorded conversation, after returning to the checkpoint.

Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Command, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed on Tuesday that the officers featured in the viral video had been identified and were now detained. The Command has also extended an invitation to the complainant to visit the FCT Police Command Headquarters. This invitation is intended to facilitate an official statement from the victim, which will be crucial in aiding the ongoing investigation and subsequent disciplinary actions against the implicated personnel. Members of the public are encouraged to report similar instances of police misconduct, with the PPRO providing contact numbers 07038979348 or 08180382808 for such reports.

Commissioner of Police for the FCT Police Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, PhD, FCAI, has acknowledged the video and the serious allegations it contains. He has unequivocally reiterated the Command's firm stance against any form of extortion, abuse of authority, or unprofessional conduct by its officers. CP Sanusi emphasized that such behavior will not be tolerated within the force.

The Commissioner affirmed that any officer found culpable after a thorough investigation will face appropriate disciplinary and legal action, strictly in accordance with existing laws and regulations. This commitment underscores the FCT Police Command's dedication to maintaining internal accountability and upholding professional standards among its personnel. The swift identification and detention of the officers involved in this Abuja police N40,000 extortion detention incident signal a proactive approach to addressing public complaints.

This recent incident of alleged police extortion occurs amidst a backdrop of persistent public complaints regarding similar abuses of power at checkpoints across Abuja. The FCT Police Command has previously demonstrated a commitment to tackling such issues, indicating a renewed focus on Nigeria police disciplinary action. For instance, in June 2026, CP Sanusi issued a public warning to officers, specifically cautioning against extorting commercial tricycle and motorcycle operators. He explicitly stated that any officer caught engaging in such acts would be treated as a criminal rather than a law enforcement agent.

Further demonstrating this commitment to police accountability Nigeria, in July 2026, the Command detained four officers who allegedly abandoned their posts, established an unauthorized checkpoint, and extorted approximately ₦52,000 from the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu, SAN. These officers subsequently faced an orderly room trial. The consistent actions taken by the FCT Police Command, particularly under CP Ahmed Sanusi, suggest a growing precedent for internal accountability, providing a framework for citizens to report FCT Police Command misconduct and expect a response.

This incident indicates a renewed commitment by the FCT Police Command to address and punish police extortion, providing a precedent for lawyers to advise clients on reporting misconduct and pursuing disciplinary or legal action against officers involved in similar abuses of authority. It underscores the potential for internal accountability within the police force.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH Online