“Armed Robbery In Uniform”: Borno Ginger Farmer Alleges Police Detention, Extortion In N8.9Million Sale Dispute

Babangida further alleged that while he was still in detention in Maiduguri, an agreement titled “Commitment to Pay Debt”, dated September 4, 2025, was drafted and signed in Kafanchan by his relatives without his knowledge.

A ginger farmer and trader, Babangida Aliyu Kafanchan, has accused officers of the Borno State Police Crack Squad, working in collaboration with a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, of unlawful detention, intimidation and extortion following what he described as a purely commercial dispute with a buyer.

Speaking to SaharaReporters on Sunday, Babangida narrated that the dispute began after he sold 40 bags of ginger to Bakura Kajima, a trader from Maiduguri, Borno State in April.

“He bought broken ginger at ₦350,000 per bag and normal ginger at ₦450,000 per bag in April 2025. These were market prices at the time, and everything was agreed openly in the presence of Alhaji Yaro Shaibu, who introduced him to me,” Babangida said.

According to him, Kajima paid in full and took delivery of the goods.

“Weeks later, after selling the ginger, he came back claiming he never bought at those prices,” he added.

Babangida said he tried to resolve the matter amicably.

“To avoid any problem, I told him clearly: return my goods and I will refund every kobo you paid. That was where the discussion ended,” he said.

Babangida said that on August 28, police officers from Maiduguri arrived in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, to arrest him.

“They told me they were only investigating a complaint. My people resisted the arrest, but I asked them to calm down and I followed the police because I believed I had done nothing wrong,” he explained.

However, he alleged that things changed immediately he arrived at the Borno State Police Crack Squad.

“I asked them to give me the petition so I could read it, but they refused. They only kept telling me that Bakura Kajima said he gave me ₦8.9 million and I did not supply any goods,” Babangida said.

Babangida insisted the allegation was false.

“How can they say I did not supply goods when the ginger was delivered, witnessed and even photographed? Everyone in the market knows the price of ginger as at April,” he said.

Babangida further alleged that after selling the goods, the complainant changed the prices he originally paid.

“Broken ginger that I sold for ₦350,000, he reduced it to ₦280,000. Normal ginger that was ₦450,000, he brought it down to ₦250,000 after selling everything,” he said.

Babangida said he insisted the police should investigate the facts instead of relying solely on the complainant’s story.

“I told them, please investigate this matter. But they told me plainly that I must pay the money back,” he said.

He said he was detained for 11 days and repeatedly threatened.

“They told me I would not be released unless I refunded the money. I kept asking them, how do I refund money when my goods have been sold?” he said.

According to Babangida, when he insisted on the return of his goods as a condition for any refund, police officers dismissed the request.

“They told me the complainant had already sold the goods. That was when I knew something was wrong,” he said.

Babangida alleged that the police threatened him with severe consequences if he did not comply.

“The IPO (Investigating Police Officer) threatened to take me to Boko Haram custody if I refused to accept their demand,” he said.

Babangida further alleged that the police officers seized his phone and prevented him from contacting anyone.

“For five days, I was not allowed to call anybody. My phone was seized,” he said.

During his detention, Babangida alleged that a Civil Defence officer, Aliyu Tanimu Amfani, collaborated with Kajima to pressure his family.

“Without my knowledge, they contacted my relatives and threatened them,” he alleged.

He said this resulted in the collection of ₦3 million from his in-law Danladi Makadi and another relation identified as Fatima Abdullahi.

“The civil defence officer collected the money and sent it straight to Bakura Kajima without my consent,” Babangida said.

He also alleged direct extortion by police officers.

“The Area Officer and IPO, Inspector Musa Joseph, also known as Musa Goge, extorted ₦600,000 from me. Receipts are available,” he said.

Disputed ‘Debt’ Agreement

Babangida further alleged that while he was still in detention in Maiduguri, an agreement titled “Commitment to Pay Debt”, dated September 4, 2025, was drafted and signed in Kafanchan by his relatives without his knowledge.

“I was in custody in Borno State when they wrote an undertaking in Kaduna State. I did not authorize it, and I was never informed,” he said.

The agreement acknowledged the payment of ₦3 million and committed his relatives to paying an additional ₦5.955 million within two months.

“They entered an agreement in my name without my knowledge. That is illegal,” Babangida insisted.

Babangida described the entire episode as a gross abuse of police power.

“You cannot carry someone’s goods, sell them, and then use the police to collect money again. That is armed robbery,” he said, describing it as armed robbery in uniform.

He called on the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, and human rights organisations to intervene.

“I want an independent investigation into the actions of the police and the civil defence officer involved,” he said.

Attempts to reach the state police command for comment on the allegations were unsuccessful, as its spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, did not answer calls at the time of filing this report.