A shocking video now trending on TikTok has exposed brazen extortion by officers of the Nigerian Police Force along the Benin Bypass in Edo State—demanding bribes from travellers over the suspended Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR) certificate.
Despite a clear directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in July 2024 suspending the enforcement of the e-CMR, a viral Sunday clip captures one officer threatening commuters with either a N5,000 payment or a “donation” of five litres of fuel.
The video, which has sparked outrage across social media platforms, shows a disturbing exchange between a police officer and a commercial bus driver carrying passengers.
Watch the video via this link below,:
“Where is your e-CMR?” the officer demanded.
“e-CMR is illegal,” the driver responded, referencing the recent suspension.
But rather than back down, the officer pressed on: “If you don’t have it, you will pay money or you buy five litres of fuel.”
When the driver sought clarification—“How much is five litres of fuel?”—the officer brazenly declared: “That is N5,000.”
Stunned, the driver asked: “That means you want N5,000 from each person? What about the other person?”
The officer replied casually: “Let him bring N3,000.”
In the video, several distressed passengers are seen either pleading for leniency or reluctantly complying. One visibly upset commuter could be heard saying, “If I had the money, I would have paid right away.”
The TikTok user who uploaded the video captioned it: “Travellers who do not have e-CMR—which the IGP has suspended—were asked to pay N5,000 or buy five litres of fuel by this police officer along Benin Bypass.”
The incident has triggered renewed concerns about rampant impunity among some members of the force, who continue to flout top-level directives and prey on vulnerable Nigerians under the guise of enforcing defunct regulations.
In July 2024, following massive public criticism and threats of legal action from civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association, the IGP announced a nationwide halt on the enforcement of the controversial e-CMR initiative.
Clarifying the move at the time, police spokesperson CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated:
“Contrary to rumours, the e-CMR is not a revenue-generating platform but a digital policing initiative aimed at improving public safety and reducing vehicle-related crimes.”
He added:
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has ordered an immediate suspension of the enforcement of the e-CMR scheduled to commence on July 29, 2024. This is to allow for adequate public sensitisation and education on its benefits, process, and impact.”
Yet, months after this declaration, the video from Edo paints a different reality—one where officers, emboldened by impunity, exploit ordinary citizens with blatant disregard for official orders.
As public anger mounts, advocacy groups and legal practitioners are demanding swift disciplinary action against the officers involved. The incident serves as a stark reminder that without accountability, reforms in Nigeria’s policing system may remain little more than ink on paper.
PIONEER NEWS 