A Lagos dispatch rider has alleged that he paid N20,000 to police officers before his motorcycle was released, with a video of the alleged exchange now circulating on social media.
The Lagos State Police Command said on Monday, October 5, 2026, that it was aware of the footage, had identified the officers involved and had commenced an investigation, according to The Whistler.
The officers are attached to the Makinde Divisional Headquarters, the command said.
For a dispatch rider, a motorcycle is the means of earning a living. When a bike is held at a police station, the rider loses working time, while any payment made to secure its release comes directly from his earnings.
The rider alleged that police officers detained his motorcycle and demanded money before releasing it, The Whistler reported. First Daily News reported that the rider used a hidden camera to record the encounter without the officers’ knowledge.
The rider has not been named in the reports reviewed by The Business Times, and the publication has not independently verified his account.
In a statement, the Lagos police command said Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai directed the officers to report to the Command Headquarters.
The officers have since reported and are being interviewed, the command said, adding that appropriate action would follow the outcome of the investigation, according to First Daily News.
The command did not disclose whether any of the officers had been arrested, suspended or otherwise disciplined.
The allegation comes days after another extortion claim involving Lagos police.
FIJ reported on October 4, 2026, that a car dealer in the Berger area alleged that six police officers threatened to label him a kidnapping suspect and demanded N200,000 from him.
According to FIJ, the Complaint Response Unit said it could not identify the officers because the man was not taken to a police station. The reports reviewed by The Business Times did not contain a response from the Lagos State Police Command to that allegation.
There is no indication in the reports that the two incidents are connected.
For now, the Lagos command has confirmed that it is investigating the dispatch rider’s allegation but has not disclosed the scope of the probe or when its findings will be made public.
The outcome will determine whether the officers face disciplinary action and whether the alleged N20,000 payment is recovered, while also testing the command’s response to evidence of alleged misconduct captured by members of the public.
