27/09/2025
A Shameful Act: The Nigeria immigration service Benue State Command Must Address This Abuse of Power
Earlier today, a young man boarded a public transport vehicle operated by Victoria Travels, departing Makurdi for Abuja.
Just outside Makurdi, near North Bank, the vehicle was stopped at a small Nigeria Immigration Service checkpoint, during the routine check, an officer identified as Nasiru Haruna singled out the young man likely because of his dreadlocks and tattoos and asked him to step down from the vehicle.
Officer Nasiru immediately demanded to see his National Identity Card. The young man politely explained that he didn’t have one at the moment, but that he was a Nigerian citizen, Tiv by tribe and an indigene of Benue State.
Despite his explanation, the officer told him plainly that unless he provided money, the vehicle would leave him behind. Fearing he would miss an important appointment in Abuja, the young man asked, “What exactly do you want me to do now?” Officer Nasiru first demanded ₦20,000, but after some back and forth, they agreed on ₦12,000, which was transferred to his Opay account, only after the payment was made was he allowed to rejoin the vehicle and continue his journey.
Intervention and Further Disgrace:
A fellow passenger who was in the same vehicle immediately called and informed me of the incident and forwarded the transaction evidence, without delay, I called Officer Nasiru Haruna and introduced myself. I asked him clearly to refund the money, reminding him that taking money from a citizen over the lack of a national ID card is both illegal and unethical.
At first, he denied extortion, claiming it was just a “gesture of appreciation.” Eventually, he asked for the young man’s account number, which I provided. But while I was still speaking with him, I overheard a voice in the background arrogantly say:
> "Nothing that n***a fit do you, guy. Tell him to do his worst."
This single statement revealed the deep rot and impunity that h
