A man, simply identified as Debola, has accused men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of brutality and extortion over his brother’s passport found in his possession during a stop-and-search operation in the Epe area of Lagos State.
Newsnaija gathered that the victim was traveling to Akure when the policemen accosted the bus conveying him and subjected all the passengers to a search.
When it got to Debola’s turn, it was learned that the policemen found nothing incriminating on him, but took him into custody because of his brother’s passport found in his possession.
Debola took to his Twitter page to let the world know has happened, which was reposted on Instablog9ja, that the policemen accused him of going to kill his brother, adding that when he got to the Ketu Ereyun Police Station, the cops demanded N1.5m for his release.
Debola wrote, “Sars stopped my bus today around EPE, I was traveling to Akure from Ajah. They stopped my bus and searched me, thinking I’m a scammer, they found nothing. They searched my bag and found my brother’s international passport in there. That’s how it started.
“They accused me of going to kill the owner of the passport and that I was running away. I told them it was my brother’s. As I was about calling my brother, they collected my phone and started beating me with a big stick telling me to enter their vehicle and asked my bus to go.
“We got there, they asked me and the other people they’ve arrested to remove our clothes and they started taking pictures. I was just confused because I was trying to figure out what exactly I did. They took us to the counter planning to take us to the cell. That’s where I started pleading for what I didn’t even know my offense was.
“The one that beat me with the stick came to me and said I’m acting stubborn and he’d let me know there’s nothing I can do with whatever they do to me. I was speechless. After several pleading, they called me outside and said they’ll collect money from me. They said 1.5million. I was shocked. I pleaded and told them I don’t have that kind of money. They didn’t even listen.”
The victim further stated that the policemen took him to a Point of Sales operator, where N55,000 was withdrawn from his account before he was released, adding that he had evidence to back up his claim.
He also added on his Twitter page saying, “Thank God I had spare money with me I would have been stranded. This brutality is getting too much. I didn’t write this to attract people’s pity, I just want you guys to be careful out there all the time. We the youths are not safe at all. These Sars people can take one’s life and the world wouldn’t even know they did.