Police officers from the Oba Market area in Benin City, Edo, have been detained for disciplinary action over an alleged extortion of ₦300,000 from a furniture maker, after initially demanding ₦1 million.

Spokesperson for the command, Moses Yamu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, after a video on social media showed one Mama Pee challenging officers at a station for extortion, initially demanding ₦1 million before negotiating to ₦ 500,000, and then finally to ₦300,000.

Mama Pee, in the video, alleged that the errant officers, who, before extorting the victim, stopped the vehicle conveying him, called him a ‘Yahoo Boy’, subsequently searched him, and illegally checked his phone but found nothing.

Following the incident, the police announced, in a statement, that the command “has taken decisive action”.

“The officers involved have been promptly identified, the money has been fully recovered and returned to the victim, while the said officers have been detained and are to face disciplinary procedures in accordance with the extant regulations of the Nigeria Police Force.

“In addition, stern administrative measures have been taken against the Oba Market Area Command to ensure professionalism, discipline, and respect for the rights of citizens in the discharge of their duties,” stated the police.