A video making rounds on social media has ignited public outrage after showing a police officer demanding either ₦5,000 or five litres of fuel from travellers along the Benin Bypass for allegedly failing to present an Electronic Central Motor Registry (ECMR) certificate.
The footage, posted on Sunday by X.com user Teniola (@Teeniiola), captured the officer insisting on ECMR compliance, despite the fact that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had suspended enforcement of the registration in July 2024.
The suspension followed widespread backlash from Nigerians who accused the police of using the policy as a tool for extortion.
In the video, one of the travellers challenged the officer, saying the ECMR demand was illegal. The officer replied dismissively, “You can make call now.” When the traveller refused, asking, “What do you want us to do?” the policeman brazenly demanded, “We’ll go and buy [fuel], that’s 5k.” He later asked another traveller for three litres of fuel.
The incident has rekindled public concern over ongoing police misconduct and extortion on Nigerian roads, despite previous warnings and policy suspensions.
Reacting to the video, Delta State Police Command spokesperson SP Edafe Bright strongly condemned the officer’s actions. He posted on X, “My God. Thanks for recording this. Little by little, all the moles will be taken out of the system.
“All these Policemen bringing shame to us, one by one, they will be sent out of the organisation. Maybe when they become jobless, they will go into content creation. This is embarrassing and the force is on it.”
Watch the video below:
What you should know
The Electronic Central Motor Registry (ECMR) is not currently being enforced nationwide, following a directive from the Inspector General of Police in July 2024.
Any officer insisting on ECMR compliance is acting in violation of police orders and may be engaging in extortion.
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