Officers from the Ogun State Police Command have been detained for allegedly requesting payment from the family of a missing girl before initiating an investigation into her case.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the arrest in a post on X.com on Saturday, though the identities of the implicated officers were not revealed.
Adejobi condemned the actions of the officers, describing them as “inhuman, apathetic, and unprofessional.” He assured the public that disciplinary measures would be taken against those involved.
His statement read, “Otta missing girl: The policemen who demanded money before they could attend to the case have been arrested and are now in detention for disciplinary action.
“We condemn such an act and will not tolerate it. It is inhuman, apathetic, and unprofessional.
“The Ogun State Police Command has been on the case. The girl will be found as soon as possible. We also urge the family of the victim to cooperate with the police.”
Adejobi also reiterated the command’s dedication to locating the missing child, encouraging the family to work closely with law enforcement.
According to The PUNCH, the missing girl, a seven-year-old child of a point-of-sale operator, was allegedly kidnapped by a regular customer of her mother.
The incident occurred when the man, after buying food for the girl, sent her on an errand to purchase water but did not return with her.
When the girl’s mother reported the incident to the police, she was allegedly asked to pay ₦10,000 to file the case and an additional ₦30,000 to track the suspect’s phone number.