Extortion & The Price Of Passage
By DAVID JOHN-FLUKE
THE ECONOMY OF EXTORTION
How Illegality Became Routine
POLICE extortion in Nigeria is no longer an aberration; it has become a system. From highways in the South-East to checkpoints in the North-Central and South-South regions, citizens describe an entrenched practice sustained by predictability and silence.
Officers allegedly profile first, intimidate next, and demand payment last—an order so familiar that many travellers anticipate it before stopping.
The Hidden Tax on Movement
Extortion has quietly evolved into an unofficial tax on mobility. Transporters factor illegal payments into operating costs, which are transferred to passengers through higher fares. Traders moving goods across state lines complain of unpredictable expenses and delays.
In rural areas, some merchants abandon shorter routes known for extortion, choosing longer, riskier paths that inflate costs and disrupt supply chains. The result is an invisible but widespread economic drag.
The Ogudu Case as a Case Study
The December 2025 Ogudu checkpoint incident exposed how deeply embedded the practice has become. The alleged demand for $2,000 from a travelling couple shocked the public not only for its size but for its brazenness.
While police authorities acted swiftly after public outrage, the partial refund and ongoing investigation raised uncomfortable questions: how many similar cases go unresolved because they never go viral?
Profiling, Power, and Vulnerability
Young Nigerians report being disproportionately targeted—judged by fashion, speech, or technology. Women recount intimidation that goes beyond financial extortion into harassment. The message is clear: vulnerability determines the price.
Why Reporting Fails
Formal complaint mechanisms remain widely distrusted. Victims fear retaliation, prolonged processes, or being ignored. Social media has emerged as an alternative accountability tool, forcing quick responses in high-profile cases.
But justice mediated by virality is uneven. Not everyone can safely record encounters with armed officers, and systemic reform cannot depend on smartphones.
Legal Violations, Weak Consequences
Legal experts note that extortion and unlawful detention violate constitutional rights to liberty and movement. Yet criminal prosecution of officers remains rare, with internal discipline favoured over open trials.
Critics argue that without visible consequences, extortion remains a rational risk for erring officers.
A Costly Normalisation
As Nigeria grapples with economic strain and insecurity, police extortion compounds hardship. What was once shocking has become routine, and what is routine is hardest to dismantle.
