Some residents of Mushin in Lagos State have protested what they called incessant raid and extortion by policemen, and urged the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to check the trend.
The residents, led by Mr Alade Marshal, Chairman, Community Development Association (CDA) in the area had on July 9, staged a peaceful protest at Olosan Police Station over the raid.
The CDA covers Akodu, Idi-Araba, Cardoso and its neighbourhood.
Some of the residents who spoke to NAN on Thursday alleged that policemen usually came with commercial buses and raid the area, arresting both young and old men.
They also alleged that at the police station, each person bailed out himself with between N5,000 and N6,000, particularly those without any identification.
The CDA chairman said the police always came to the area under the guise of raiding India hemp smokers and end up arresting innocent persons.
“We are protesting to tell the police that India hemp smokers are no longer in our area.
“The CDA leaders have met with the youths of the area to enlighten them on community policing,’’ Marshall said.
Another protester, who simply identified herself as Mojisola, lamented that the police raid and extortion was becoming worrisome to all the residents.
“The police are not enforcing the law at all; they are extorting money from our brothers and fathers.
“They arrested 18 persons on July 9, and money was given to them by a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly (name withheld) before the police released them,’’ Mojisola said.
Some of the residents, who claimed to be victims of such arrest and extortion between January and June, called on the police authorities to check their activities in Mushin.
Mr Adeola Afolabi and Gbolagade Azeez, lotto agents, claimed they paid N5,000 each to police before they were released after one of the raids.
Seun Oniyinde, a generator mechanic and two brothers, Yinka and Dare Agboola, claimed they paid N6,000 each before they were set free by the police.
They also claimed the police usually come at about 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. respectively for the raid.
Reacting, the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed that 10 persons were arrested during the July 9 raid.
Nwosu disclosed that two were set free after investigation.
“The police have handed over eight of them whose identities could not be ascertained to the taskforce for discreet investigation and prosecution.
“It is the responsibility of the Police to raid all black spots in the state. Residents should always support the police to arrest criminals in the areas.
“I am not aware that some residents were arrested and that they paid between N5,000 and N6,000 as bail. That is not allowed in Lagos State Police Command.
“We have a rule that says, “don’t give bribe and don’t take bribe.
“The command warns residents against taking the laws into their hands,’’ Nwosu said.
