Bandits in police uniform: RULAAC demands dismissal of Inspector Kalu, other FCID operatives involved in abduction-style arrest of Lagos man
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for the outright dismissal of police Inspector Kalu and his other co-travellers involved in the abduction-style arrest of a Lagos man, Mr Olawale Iyanda.
On August 12, Mr Iyanda, his wife and 18-year-old sister-in-law were brutalised in their home at Egbeda area of Lagos State by police operatives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, before later taken away.
Mr Iyanda was later forced to pay N2 million, plus N37,000 in POS charges to the police gang led by Inspector Kalu.
Although the AIG in charge of FCID Alagbon has ensured the recovery and return of the money extorted from Mr Iyanda and the arrest of the implicated officers, RULAAC says it is insufficient.
In a statement signed by RULAAC’s executive director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, the CSO called for the sack of Inspector Kalu and his other colleagues involved in the dastardly act, in addition to their prosecution.
The statement reads in part: “At about 7:20 a.m. on that day (August 12), armed men stormed Unity Estate in Egbeda, Lagos. They forced their way into a residential compound, dragged out Mr. Olawale without a warrant, brutalized him, and whisked him away in a minibus. Neighbours initially mistook them for armed robbers. His wife and her 18-year-old sister were also manhandled, beaten, dragged by the hair, and sprayed in the eyes with teargas.
“At FCID Ikoyi, Mr. Olawale was subjected to horrific torture. He was beaten with gun butts, spat upon, dragged by his private parts, and coerced to write dictated “confessions.” His phone was illegally searched, but nothing incriminating was found. Still, the officers, led by a certain Mr. Kalu, insisted he must admit to being a fraudster or drug dealer.
“The ordeal culminated in extortion. The officers initially demanded ₦10 million, later reduced it to ₦5 million, and finally collected ₦2 million cash plus ₦37,000 in POS charges before releasing him. Before letting him go, they stored his NIN details and pictures of his wife, sister-in-law, and children on their phones, warning that “they were not done with him yet.”
“This was not policing. It was banditry in uniform. It was abduction for ransom, not law enforcement. Every aspect of this ordeal—unlawful arrest and detention, torture, degrading treatment, extortion, and threats to life—violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, and the Anti-Torture Act of 2017.
“Even more alarming, Mr. Olawale has informed RULAAC that while in detention, he learnt of at least three other similar cases where the same rogue officers had abducted, tortured, and extorted innocent citizens in almost identical fashion. This shows that their actions were not isolated excesses but part of an entrenched criminal enterprise operating under the cover of police authority.
“RULAAC notes that the victim has confirmed that the AIG in charge of FCID Annex, Alagbon, ensured the recovery and return of the money extorted from him and that the implicated officers are currently detained. We commend this initial step. However, accountability will remain incomplete if it stops here. The officers must be dismissed, prosecuted, and made to face justice. The disciplinary and prosecution process must be transparent and credible to restore public trust.
“This case, alongside others, highlights a recurring pattern of impunity at FCID Ikoyi and other police formations across Nigeria. Silence or cosmetic transfers can no longer be acceptable.
“We therefore call on the Inspector General of Police to:*
1. Order a thorough and transparent investigation into this case and the other reported cases linked to the same officers.
2. Ensure that Mr. Kalu and his team are dismissed and prosecuted for their crimes.
3. Guarantee restitution and protection for Mr. Olawale and other victims.
4. Implement systemic reforms to end the recurring pattern of torture, extortion, and criminality within FCID and other police units.
“Nigerians deserve a police service, not a predatory gang in uniform. Until there is full accountability for cases like these, public trust will remain broken and insecurity will only deepen.”
