Devil’s Incarnates: Nigeria Police, Civil Defence Officers Collect N5000 Bribe From Residents of Lugbe, Kubwa, Other FCT Satellite Towns For Not Wearing Facemasks


”HOW CAN YOU EXPECT SOMEONE WHO IS IN HIS HOUSE TO WEAR FACEMASK OR HOW CAN YOU ACCUSE A FAMILY SITTING TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF NOT OBSERVING SOCIAL DISTANCING”.

One of the residents who spoke to LeadingReporters Lead Investigator asked why crying of parting with over N20,000 to Nigeria Security Personnel as bribe to gain his freedom.

Nigeria Police and their counterpart in Civil Defence’s perennial notoriety of harassing, intimidating and coercing hapless and vulnerable Nigerians into parting with their hard earned money on grounds of enforcing orders has once more come to the fore. This time, Abuja residents, mostly in Satellite towns of Kubwa, Lugbe, Nyanya and other places are constantly at the receiving end of this reckless brutality and intimidation.

These security men are now going into satellite villages, arresting residents on grounds that they were not staying indoors or wearing facemasks. These men, especially from the Joint Task Force Team who embark on these criminal activities are said to be collecting N5000 from everyone arrested.


Some of the residents who spoke to this platform narrated how they parted with as much as N25,000 as bribe to have their family members released from the hands of security officers, popularly called the JTF. One of the residents who requested that his name should not be mentioned recounted how he and his family members were resting in front of their house when suddenly these security men swooped on them.

“We were just sitting in front of the house when suddenly the security men made of police and civil defence swooped on us, claiming that we were violating social distancing. We are a family. Social distancing does not involve families that live together.

We tried to explain to them, but they pushed us into the waiting vehicle with others. No one there wore facemask. Not even the security men. We were jam-packed like sardine fishes with everyone rubbing each other’s’ body. They seized all our phones, out of fear that we may call or record their activities. I spent a total of N20,000 to gain my freedom and that of my children. That money was the money, the last of which I kept since we are not sure when this sit-at-home will last

Another respondent said they were arrested right in front of their shops in Lugbe on grounds that they did not wear mask.

“We were sitting in front of our shop. Suddenly, people began to run and they swooped on us (Police and Civil Defence Officers) that we were not wearing facemask, before you knew it, they whisked us away and forced us to pay between N3,000 and N5,000 before we were released. The worse is that they usually jam-pack everyone together in their vehicle. Ironically, the people arresting you did not cover their own noses and mouths. Again, is it not the height of irresponsibility to pack people together in a vehicle when you are arresting them for not wearing facemask and keeping social distancing?

“We call on the authorities to warn these officers who have turned the global misfortune into a money-making venture. People are grieving for the loss of businesses and jobs, people cannot even feed and these men are here robbing people with a gun in the name of enforcing orders. Which orders are you giving when you cannot provide for your citizens in this trying time?

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Na their method of making cursed money.

I feel sad seeing Civil Defense requesting for bribe. They've been polluted by police.