A corps member has reportedly been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA after purchasing medication for a leg injury sustained during a football match.

The officers allegedly demanded ₦150,000 to secure his release.

The incident was brought to light by the victim’s brother, who shared a detailed account on X (formerly Twitter).

According to his post, the corps member suffered an injury while playing football in Calabar and visited a pharmacy to get pain relief medication.

However, on his way back, NDLEA officers searched his bag, found the drugs, and arrested him.

The victim was reportedly handcuffed and held at a location for three hours while the officers insisted on receiving ₦150,000 for his release, refusing to accept a bank transfer.

Instead, they allegedly took him to a POS center to withdraw the cash.

The post also noted that the arrested corps member was unaware that the medication he had purchased was classified as a controlled drug.

The full account shared by the victim’s brother read:  

“My brother played football in Calabar and got injured during the game. He went to a chemist, where he was given some tablets. On his way back today, @ndlea_nigeria officers searched his bag, found the tablets, and claimed one was a controlled drug. So they took him!”

“We had to pay ₦150K to bail him out. These @ndlea_nigeria officers handcuffed him and even asked the driver of the Onitsha South bus he boarded to leave him behind. He was stranded for three hours while we struggled to raise the funds.”

“They refused a bank transfer and instead took him to a POS center. The only reason they settled for ₦150K was because his Opay account couldn’t withdraw more in a day.”

“And guess what? He was wearing his NYSC cap and had his ID card on him the whole time. Right now, he’s still trying to reach Awka. The last time he called, he was in Ugep, heading to Abakaliki.”

“This is pure extortion and abuse of power. No one should have to go through this, especially not an innocent corps member. We need to hold these officers accountable. If anyone knows the best way to take legal action or report this, please reach out.”

Following the post, concerned Nigerians flooded the comment section, expressing outrage over the alleged extortion and calling for accountability from the NDLEA.

See some reactions below:

@Teddie_vee_: “This is crazy! Even with his ID and the fact that he’s a Corps member, it’s clear they were just after the money and forgot their real job is to protect, not to oppress.”

@Wire__7: “I’ve experienced this same thing back in 2018, I was traveling back to school (Unical) when NDLEA stoped our bus and searched me, my bags .. saw nothing, they asked if I smoke weed I said “No I don’t” till they decided to search phone and saw weed pictures on my phone.”

@enyola: “You guys got scammed. If he was indeed in possession of a controlled drug, they will be more interested in where it was prescribed to him.”

@uchennapaul: “It is very likely he had tramadol on him. It should not be taken unless it was prescribed by a doctor. A hospital once gave me tramadol and I was not bothered to take it home because I knew that once it is from a hospital I didn’t brake any law.”

@Oluya_of_lagos: “Ok let’s assume it was a controlled drug why not let him take them to the place he got it instead of arresting people buying and leave who is selling??”

@Mickyiv4: “The criminality that goes on in this country from different security apparatus is crazy. The 150k they charged him & collected is for what exactly? Is it fine for the offense of carrying a controlled drug? Did they enlighten him or document him? Did they give him receipt? Crazy.”

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