US Professor Robbed and Extorted: A Nigerian-American professor was robbed at gunpoint and later extorted for money during a recent trip to Nigeria – his first visit to his homeland in over 30 years.
Moyo Okediji, an art history professor at the University of Texas, was attacked by an armed man on Christmas morning at his chalet in Ile-Ife. The assailant, who claimed to be a Fulani herdsman, threatened Okediji with a machete and made off with his laptop, phone and $300 in cash.
Okediji then sought police assistance in Lagos, hoping they could help track his stolen electronics. But instead of aid, he faced further exploitation. After filing his robbery report, Okediji said police provided the number of an officer who demanded 100,000 naira ($225) to work on the case.
When Okediji paid the bribe, the man then claimed the suspects were tracked to Ore and Abeokuta. But for an arrest, the officer raised his demand to 750,000 naira ($1,700). At this point, Okediji began recording their conversations for proof of the extortion.
Exasperated by the ordeal after his 30-year absence, Okediji lamented the sad state of affairs in Nigeria. He accused security forces of endangering citizens rather than protecting them. Okediji also warned foreigners against traveling there given the bleak security situation.
US Professor Robbed and Extorted: The professor ultimately fled back to Ghana a week later, still missing his stolen items. His dream homecoming ended in trauma, emblematic of deeper institutional decay plaguing Nigerian law enforcement and immigration services.
Source After encounter with Nigerian Immigration, US professor robbed, then extorted by police officers