IGP’s Intelligence Officers Arrested, Detained Over ₦10 Million Extortion From Abuja Businessman

At least two senior police officers attached to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), a unit that operates close to the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), have been arrested and are currently being detained in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the extortion and theft of ₦10 million from an Abuja-based businessman. The officers are also being investigated for other serious allegations, including armed robbery, abuse of power, and kidnapping for ransom.

The officers, identified as Adamu Sani and SP Austine, were reportedly part of an FID team that carried out a covert operation on August 15, 2025, targeting Lukman Abubakar, a businessman residing in Abuja. According to findings, the officers gained access to Abubakar’s residence by posing as personnel of a power distribution company, a tactic that allowed them to enter the premises without immediate suspicion.

Once inside the house, the officers allegedly forcefully searched the property and later bundled Abubakar into their custody. He was subsequently taken to the Force Intelligence Department’s office, located opposite the IGP’s office in Abuja. There, the officers reportedly demanded a ransom of ₦10 million in exchange for his freedom, threatening that failure to comply would result in his handover to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Recounting the incident, Abubakar explained that he initially believed the men were officials from the electricity company until they barged into his home and identified themselves as police officers from the FID. According to him, they claimed they had intelligence reports linking him to illegal activities. Although he maintained that his business dealings were legitimate, he cooperated with the search, believing it would clear his name.

During the operation, the officers reportedly seized several personal items, including laptops, mobile phones, and an MTN MiFi device belonging to Abubakar and his fiancée. His car keys were also taken, and his vehicle documents were allegedly used to generate a search warrant bearing his name, further strengthening the officers’ claims of legitimacy.

Abubakar said he was later instructed to change clothes before being driven to the FID office, with one of the officers driving his car while others followed in a separate vehicle. His fiancée and a neighbour, who had earlier alerted him to the presence of the officers, reportedly followed them to the office.

At the FID office, Abubakar was subjected to hours of interrogation. He identified Adamu Sani as the officer who conducted his interrogation and SP Austine as the team leader overseeing the operation. According to Abubakar, SP Austine later admitted that he was not involved in fraud but accused him of using cryptocurrency platforms such as Binance and Bybit, which the officers claimed were not licensed to operate in Nigeria. He was also accused of “identity theft” for maintaining multiple online accounts, an allegation Abubakar said he explained as common practice within the crypto industry.

Initially, the officers reportedly demanded ₦1 million to resolve the matter. However, when Abubakar attempted to negotiate due to his impending wedding, the situation escalated. He was detained overnight after being told that a detention warrant had been signed by a superior officer, whose identity he could not immediately confirm.

By the following day, August 16, the ransom demand reportedly increased to ₦20 million. Faced with the prospect of continued detention, Abubakar agreed to pay ₦10 million. The officers allegedly insisted on cash, prompting his wife to withdraw the money through a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator at a significant cost. After payment, Abubakar was instructed to submit his bank statements covering several months and to report regularly to the FID office, or risk being charged with fraud.

Eventually, Abubakar was taken before a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), who ordered that he be granted bail. His seized items were returned, and he was allowed to leave.

Following his release, Abubakar petitioned the IGP through his lawyer. This led to the intervention of the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU), which reportedly compelled the officers to return ₦4 million, with a promise to refund the remaining balance. The outstanding amount was never returned.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the officers were facing multiple allegations and were placed in detention. During confrontations at the CRU office, the detained officers reportedly claimed that a senior officer had also benefited from the ransom, complicating efforts to recover the remaining funds.

The Force Public Relations Office has acknowledged awareness of the case, though officials stated that recovery of the funds and further disciplinary actions would depend on the outcome of ongoing investigations. The incident has once again raised serious concerns about abuse of power, corruption, and criminal conduct within law enforcement, particularly among units tasked with intelligence and internal security.