A man who recently returned to Nigeria has alleged that he was extorted by a joint security team comprising soldiers and police officers at a checkpoint while entering Owerri, Imo State.
According to his account, the officers stopped him and conducted a thorough search of his person and luggage but found nothing incriminating. He said the only valuables in his possession were foreign currencies he had brought into the country to exchange and use for personal expenses during his stay.
The man alleged that after discovering the foreign currency, the security operatives began harassing and threatening him, demanding ₦2 million before they would allow him to proceed.
He further claimed that when he asked what offence he had committed, the officers became more aggressive and started recording videos of him alongside the cash, allegedly attempting to portray him as a criminal.
According to the man, he was detained for some time before the officers allegedly seized all the money he had on him, including the foreign currency. Fearing for his safety, he said he left the cash behind and departed the checkpoint without it.
