- The NIS has not issued a statement regarding this latest incident
A Nigerian man, Franklin Obiajuru Egwuatu, has accused officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) of assaulting and extorting N100,000 from him under the suspicion that he was an internet fraudster, commonly referred to as a “Yahoo boy.”
The incident allegedly occurred on Friday, November 29, along the Seme-Badagry highway while Franklin was returning from the Benin Republic, where he has lived since 2017.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Franklin claimed the officers checked his phone and found no incriminating evidence but continued to accuse him of fraud based on his wife’s Benin Republic phone number.
“They beat me and accused me of fraud with no evidence to justify their accusations,” Franklin recounted. “They took me to an uncompleted building, threatened to shoot me, and forced me to transfer N100,000 under duress to an account linked to Apexze Global Concept Limited, Moniepoint Microfinance Bank.”
The account, according to Franklin, is owned by Joy Yakubu, with account number 6739461449.
Franklin said he was treated like a criminal despite cooperating with the officers.
Nigerian Immigration Service officials have faced repeated allegations of extortion and misconduct, particularly at border posts like Seme. These claims often highlight exploitative practices targeting both Nigerians and foreigners.
As of now, the NIS has not issued a statement regarding this latest incident.