IGP bans POS operators within 200 metres of police stations to curb extortion

The Inspector-General of Police has ordered the immediate removal of Point of Sale (POS) operators from the vicinity of all police formations, establishing a 200-metre exclusion zone to curb allegations of extortion and official corruption

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern directive ordering Point of Sale (POS) operators across the country to maintain a distance of at least 200 metres from all police stations and formations. In an internal wireless message seen on Tuesday, the Inspector-General of Police expressed grave concern over the “alarming rate” at which these operators have set up business within the immediate vicinity of police facilities. The move follows long-standing public outcries and intelligence reports linking the proximity of these agents to illicit financial dealings, where some officers allegedly use the operators to receive bribes or extort civilians.

The police leadership emphasized that the presence of these operators is undermining critical efforts to reform the force and restore public trust. According to the signal, “INGENPOL has observed with utmost dismay the alarming rate at which Point of Sale (POS) operators are increasingly conducting transactions in/around the vicinity of police formations.” The message specifically highlighted that “numerous allegations of complicity in corrupt practices/extortion” have been attributed to the synergy between some personnel and these mobile money agents, necessitating a strict enforcement of the exclusion zone to maintain professional integrity.

To ensure compliance, the directive stated that “on no account should any POS operator be seen within a 200-meter radius of any police formation,” warning that top-tier officers, including Assistant Inspectors-General and Commissioners of Police, will be held “vicariously liable” for any violations in their jurisdictions. This enforcement drive is part of a broader transparency initiative aimed at eliminating the practice of forcing detainees or motorists to make digital transfers to third-party agents. Human rights advocates have lauded the development as a necessary step toward ending the abuse of power and financial irregularities that have plagued police-citizen interactions at checkpoints and stations.

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