A woman is reportedly being detained at the Sagamu Road Police Station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, after her male friend suddenly collapsed and died from a suspected case of high blood pressure.
According to multiple sources, the incident occurred late Monday night when the deceased, who was said to be managing hypertension, returned home from work. Shortly after, he received a distressing phone call from one of his children. The conversation was said to have left him deeply upset and may have triggered a sudden spike in his blood pressure.
Neighbours reported that the man began complaining of a severe headache and excessive sweating soon after the call. The woman, who was present at the time, reportedly bought him some pain relievers to ease his discomfort. However, his condition worsened within minutes, prompting her to call for help from neighbours.
He was rushed to a nearby private hospital but was later referred to the Ikorodu General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead on arrival in the early hours of Tuesday.
Health workers at the general hospital reportedly advised the woman to visit the nearest police station to report the sudden death. Acting on their advice, she went to the Sagamu Road Police Station to make an official report. However, what was meant to be a routine procedure quickly turned into a distressing experience when police officers allegedly detained her.
Relatives and neighbours who followed up at the police station said they explained that the deceased had been battling high blood pressure and that there was no sign of foul play. Despite this, police officers allegedly refused to release her unless a payment of ₦300,000 was made.
One of the relatives who spoke to journalists said they tried to negotiate with the officers but were turned down. “We explained that there was no foul play and begged them to release her. We also told them we had already spent more than ₦50,000 on hospital and transportation expenses. We offered to pay ₦50,000, but they said we were not ready to secure her freedom,” the relative said.
As of press time, the woman remains in custody at the Sagamu Road Police Station. Her continued detention has sparked outrage among residents and on social media, with many condemning what they describe as another case of police extortion and abuse of power.
Some residents who are familiar with the case have called for the intervention of the Lagos State Police Command and the state government. They expressed concern that ordinary citizens continue to face harassment even when they act in good faith by reporting incidents to law enforcement authorities.
Calls have also been made to the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure justice is served. Human rights advocates say this incident reflects a broader issue of misconduct and extortion among some police officers in Nigeria, particularly at the divisional level.
The Lagos State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident at the time of this report.
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