By Emeka Blast 
Rivers State Police Brutalize Man Over Expired Tinted Permit, Demand N1 Million in Extortion Gone Wrong
In a shocking case of alleged police brutality, officers from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Command have been accused of assaulting a man and his friends in Port Harcourt, leaving the victim for dead after he failed to meet their N1 million extortion demand. The incident, which occurred on August 18, 2025, stemmed from an expired vehicle tinted glass permit, highlighting growing concerns over police misconduct and extortion in Nigeria.
According to eyewitness accounts and a statement from the victim’s family, Mr. Chukwudi Eze, a 35-year-old businessman, was driving with two friends along Woji Road when they were stopped by a team of anti-kidnapping officers around 8:45 p.m. The officers, reportedly in plain clothes and an unmarked vehicle, demanded to see Eze’s tinted glass permit, a document required under Nigerian law for vehicles with darkened windows. Upon discovering the permit had expired two weeks prior, the officers allegedly detained Eze and his companions, accusing them of suspicious activity.
Family sources told The PUNCH that the officers demanded N1 million as a “settlement” to release the men and avoid charges. When Eze explained he could only afford N200,000 immediately, the situation escalated. “They dragged him out of the car, beat him with gun butts and sticks, and kicked his friends repeatedly,” said Eze’s brother, Ifeanyi, who received a distress call from one of the victims. “They left Chukwudi unconscious on the road, thinking he was dead, and fled with his phone and wallet.”
Eze was rushed to a nearby hospital by passersby, where doctors confirmed multiple fractures, internal bleeding, and severe head trauma. He remains in critical condition at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). His friends sustained minor injuries but were treated and discharged. The Rivers State Police Command has acknowledged the incident, with spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko stating, “We are investigating the allegations. If found guilty, the officers will face the full weight of the law.” However, no arrests have been made among the accused officers as of August 19.
The case has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and opposition figures. The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) condemned the act as “state-sponsored terrorism,” with chairman Comrade Steve Obodoekwe telling Vanguard News, “This is extortion disguised as policing. An expired permit doesn’t warrant attempted murder.” On X, users expressed fury, with @NaijaGist tweeting, “Police demanding N1M for expired tint? Then beating a man to near death? Nigeria’s finest at work! #EndPoliceBrutality,” and @EagleEyeNG posting, “Rivers Command must be purged. This isn’t law enforcement—it’s robbery! #JusticeForEze.”
This incident echoes a pattern of police extortion in Nigeria, where tinted permits, introduced to curb crime, have become a tool for harassment. The Nigeria Police Force’s 2023 guidelines require permits for tinted vehicles, but enforcement has led to widespread abuse, with reports of officers demanding bribes ranging from N50,000 to N500,000. The EndSARS movement in 2020 highlighted such issues, yet reforms remain slow.
The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has ordered an internal probe, promising transparency. Eze’s family, represented by lawyer Festus Keyamo, has filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police, demanding justice and compensation. “This is attempted murder, not policing,” Keyamo said.
