A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed the use of teargas on the rider by the police officer. 

Some lawless police officers from the Oko-Oba division have been caught assaulting a commercial motorbike rider and his two passengers in the Abule-Egba/Agege area of Lagos State.

The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) has also condemned what it described as the “inhumane harassment, assault, and extortion” of a commercial motorbike rider and his two passengers by the policemen. 

In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Secretary, Francis Nwapa, YRC detailed how the bike rider and his passengers were physically assaulted by the police officers.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed the use of teargas on the rider by the police officer. 

According to YRC, the incident occurred when the rider briefly stopped in front of a bank to attend to his passengers, prompting the officers to seize his motorbike.

“The excuse of the policemen was that the bike rider stopped in front of a bank to attend to his passengers, therefore they had to seize his bike,” Nwapa stated.

“This points to the level of recklessness that citizens, especially poor people have been experiencing from the police, especially Policemen from the Oko-Oba police station who have become notorious for harassing, assaulting and extorting people for very ridiculous reasons. 

“In fact, in Abule-Egba, this has become a daily occurrence,” he added.

The YRC said that the officers demanded a bribe of N50,000 for the release of the bike, ultimately settling for N20,000 after negotiations. 

The human rights advocacy group described the act as "nothing short of armed robbery," decrying the increasing trend of police extortion in the area.

The YRC noted, “Despite the economic hardship the Tinubu administration is inflicting on all Nigerians through its anti-poor policies that have resulted in hunger, unemployment and mass misery, it is disheartening to see youths who are only trying to survive become prey of the Nigerian Police.

“We strongly condemn the vicious actions of the Nigeria police on the poor citizen. 

“It is ironic that the ones who are supposed to protect turn around to trample upon and violate the rights of the citizenry.”

The group criticized the broader implications of police misconduct under the prevailing economic hardship in Nigeria, which it blamed on the “anti-poor policies” of the Tinubu administration.

The YRC demanded the immediate refund of the N20,000 extorted from the bike rider and disciplinary actions against the three officers involved, who were captured in the video evidence provided.

“Sadly, many commercial bike riders and youths have been victims of the harassment and extortion of these police officers who have become perpetrators of such criminality. 

“The Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) calls for appropriate disciplinary actions against the 3 police officers identified in the video for assaulting and extorting citizens. 

“We also demand immediate refund of the N20, 000 bribe money. 

“This will serve as a deterrent for other erring officers and show to citizens that the Police force are not approving of the dastardly acts of these 3 police officers.”

The group also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and expose officers who engage in such criminal conduct. 

It called for a sustained mass campaign against police brutality and the broader system that enables state repression.

“We also call on Nigerians to be vigilant and expose notorious police officers and other security operatives who have taken such criminality as a daily trade. 

“There is the need for a consistent campaign by youth and the working masses to put an end to police brutality and confront the system of capitalism which permits police brutality and state repression,” the group stated.