Offa Polytechnic Student Arrested for Refusing Phone Unlock, Forced to Pay ₦200k by Police
Traveling home from school should be a straightforward journey, but for Taiwo Kayode Taye, a student at Federal Polytechnic Offa, it turned into a nightmare filled with coercion and injustice. Stopped by the police without warning, his refusal to hand over his phone sparked a troubling ordeal.
The incident took place while Taiwo was en route from Offa to Osogbo, when officers from the Anti-Cultism Unit at Erin-Ile flagged him down. The student stood his ground, denying their request to inspect his phone, but instead of understanding, officers arrested and detained him around midday.
His detention began at the Ijagbo Police Division and extended well into the afternoon as he was later transferred to the State CID Anti-Cultism Department in Ilorin’s GRA. Hours passed without any official charge or statement, leaving him in limbo under police custody.
The situation escalated in a disturbing twist as the officers forced Taiwo to unlock his phone using Face ID. Against his will, he was coerced into transferring a hefty sum of ₦200,000 to an account registered under the name Lucy Akor. This abuse of power raises serious questions about the respect for citizens’ rights and the rule of law.
The story surfaced with a passionate call for justice, as concerned voices tagged the Nigeria Police Force and its Complaint Response Unit, demanding an urgent investigation and accountability for this blatant misconduct. For many, Taiwo’s case underscores the pressing need to address police excesses and protect individual freedoms in the country.