According to Ayedogbon, two unidentified men in plain clothes later revealed to be local informants colloquially known as “Police Dogs” confronted him on the road.
These men, commonly associated with collaborating with rogue police officers to target unsuspecting citizens, stopped him near the Owutu area in Ikorodu.
A False Setup
Recounting his ordeal, Ayedogbon said he was approached by the men who claimed to be police officers, yet failed to provide any form of identification.
“They weren’t in uniform, so I asked to see their ID cards, which they never showed,” he told FIJ.
“One of them searched me and found nothing except the hot akara I had just bought.
Then, the second man suddenly pulled out a sachet of tablets from my pocket and declared it was tramadol. I was stunned I had never seen the sachet before.”
Tramadol is a controlled substance in Nigeria and often linked to drug abuse cases. Ayedogbon maintains the drug was planted on him to justify arrest and extortion.
Assault and Extortion at Owutu Police Station
Despite protests from nearby residents who attempted to vouch for Ayedogbon’s integrity, the informants overpowered them and forcibly took him to the Owutu Police Station in the Agric area of Ikorodu.
Once there, Ayedogbon says he was physically assaulted by a police officer identified only as Prince.
“I was beaten brutally, and they demanded a sum of N130,000 for my release,” he said.
“My friends had to repair their bus, rally funds, and pay that money before I could be released.”
A relative who arrived at the station said the payment process was coordinated by a woman named Asiata Adejumo, believed to be operating a Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminal on behalf of the officers.
Allegedly, payment through this specific operator is mandatory for bail transactions.
“If you don’t collect cash from their PoS agent, they won’t take the bail money. It’s an organized racket,” Ayedogbon alleged.
A Pattern of Abuse in the Community
Ayedogbon noted that this was not an isolated incident. He said many residents had previously suffered similar treatment at the hands of these so-called “Police Dogs,” who operate with impunity in collaboration with officers from the same station.
“They ride around on motorcycles, target people, especially young men, and forcibly arrest them,” he explained.
“After seizing them, they call Prince, who arrives in a small bus. Victims are handcuffed on the spot, beaten, and taken to the cell.”
According to Ayedogbon, while he was in custody, six other young men were brought in under similar pretenses.
Each allegedly paid N50,000 to secure their release, although his own case drew more aggression due to community resistance to his arrest.
“People tried to defend me that day, and I think that angered Prince. He made me suffer more because of it,” Ayedogbon added.
Police Response
When contacted by FIJ, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Owutu Station promised to look into the incident.
He reportedly assured reporters that an internal investigation would be carried out and that he would meet with Ayedogbon personally.
However, as of the time of reporting, no formal statement had been issued by the Lagos State Police Command, and no disciplinary actions had been confirmed against the officers involved.
Calls for Justice and Reform
This incident adds to growing concerns over abuse of power by law enforcement officers and the use of informal enforcers in local communities.
Human rights advocates have called on the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State Government to thoroughly investigate the allegations, punish the guilty officers, and dismantle extortion networks within the force.
“What happened to me could happen to anyone,” Ayedogbon warned.
“If these people are not stopped, more innocent Nigerians will keep falling victim.”
