VIDEO: Osun Speaker confronts police officers extorting money from travellers

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A video of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun helping some travellers recover money extorted from them by police officers has surfaced online.

The travellers were reportedly extorted by police personnel stationed around the Ido-Osun area.

Confirming the development in a statement, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Olamide Tiamiyu said the Speaker was returning from a trip to Ayedire LGA when some citizens flagged down his vehicle to complain about the illicit activities of the police officers.

The victims were travelling for the Osun-Osogbo festival.

They alleged that the officers rejected their pleas to allow them continue with their journey and forced three among them to make a transfer of N25,000 each.

In a viral video seen by NewsClick Nigeria, the Speaker was seen moving with a retinue of aides and colleagues as a crowd formed around them.

They were seen marching to the officers’ patrol van to inquire about the incident.

When asked, the leader of the police team reportedly confessed to the speaker that they collected the said amounts from the three commuters and pleaded for forgiveness.

Speaking with passersby who stopped to witness the incident, Egbedun charged Nigerians to be responsible citizens wherever they find themselves, as sanitising the nation is a collective responsibility.

He added that society will be a better place if citizens are “willing to be responsible”.

Reacting to the incident, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the officers have been arrested.