These Guys Aren't Your Friends...
Like just about every other guy that lives in Nigeria, I’ve had my own multiple brushes with our friends in law enforcement. And it was never because I committed an offense or anything. There are just members of the Force who are hell-bent on carrying out their frustrations and displeasure with life on innocent civilians who are just trying to get by.
It’s sad really, especially seeing as it’s not a one-off thing. This is becoming a frequent occurrence. You’ll see people arrested not because they did anything, but because they look a certain way. And then, each arrest would lead to the extortion of the poor guys that were taken. A really sad reality for all of us.
As I said, I’ve brushed these guys multiple times, and if you’ve followed my blogs for a while now you would have read some posts I made concerning this issue. But then, it’s not every time it happens that I’ll talk about it. For many of us, it’s now a way of life. Walking on the road alone, we would have to be on the lookout for the cops, as if we were criminals. Always being vigilant and on guard, so that at the tiniest sign of the Po-Po, we run!
I’ve never had to run though, and most of the issues I’ve had with them, I’ve not had to release any funds majorly because they could never find anything on me. But I know very well that there are some that don’t need you to have evidence of crime, they just hurl you in whether you did anything or not.
Sometime this year, a friend and I were walking along the road to get something. This was in the afternoon, and we thought everything was going to be business as usual. But we were wrong. As we walked, we walked right into a Police van parked in the middle of the street. Just like that, they came into the in-roads and parked in the middle of the street. And anyone that caught their fancy, they called them.
Sadly, I caught their fancy, so they called me. The first thing this guy did was to take my phone, although he didn’t ask me to open it. But then, I had nothing incriminating on my phone so I was calm as I approached them. Anyway, he took my phone and started smiling at me and asking me how much I had on the phone.
Yeah, how much was in my bank account? Well, I told him the truth, it was N1200. This was my total balance that day, although it was because I did some major spending that day and that amount was all that was left. This man didn’t believe me o, he still asked me the same question over and over, how much I had on my phone. I even offered to open up my bank app just so he would see I wasn’t kidding. But he didn’t agree, thank God.
Eventually, he let me go. he must have realized that I was what people call, bad market to them and I had nothing to offer. My friend and I got what we had gone for and then hurriedly returned home.
This particular event went well for me, but for so many others on the road that day, it was a nightmare. I saw them stop some guys that were even on bikes passing by and extorted money from them. Some were bundled into the van and would be taken to the police station.
Did I learn anything from this event? Yeah. And I’ll list them below.
One of the tips I gleaned from brushing with the police is that you never act smart. I’m not saying you should not be smart, just don’t try to play them for a fool. Like ignoring them when they call you and pretending you didn’t hear, it will only get you into big trouble.
Another one is that they have guns, and you’re not bulletproof. When you are facing off with them, be respectful. Don’t be rude, don’t try to be obscene. Just answer the questions they have for you, and as long as you’re clean, then you’ll have nothing to fear with regard to the police.
It’s sad that we have to employ measures against criminals and also against those charged with protecting us. But then, what can we do? We’ll keep trying out best.
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Some of them misuse their power to gain profit even from the innocence.
Many of them just don't care.
They do care... About themselves 😂
That's how crazy they can be. They'll just arrest anyone on the street having the mindset that everyone is a Yahoo boy
As in ehn... it has become a trend for many of them. We just have to be smart when dealing with them.
Totally agree with this. there were some of them that were just on power trip and some of them are even trigger- happy.
As in ehn... a lot of people have lost their lives because of these guys. So Sad.
That's awful as this people becomes the very opposite of the thing they pledge to do which is to serve and protect.
That was really a bad market for them. They see every good looking young man as a fraudster. It's even God that saved you that day, had it been you have a lot of cash in your account that day, I wonder how it would have ended.
While we are praying for betters days, it's better we live caution, like you said our bodies are not bullet proof, a little issue that can be handled can make one loose his life. Your advise is perfect, one should never try to act smart with those guys, just do as they demand except otherwise for your own good .
Sometimes, your dressing alone can set you up for arrest. It's crazy.
We must exercise caution when dealing with them, because we have to take care of ourselves first and foremost. Only the living can claim their rights.
Thank you for reading.
Omo.. true, only the living can claim right , one they kill you, there's no more right...
You are always welcome
Bruno was really a bad market for them 😂
Oh..poor soldiers.. sorry.. lol
The lesson learnt which you shared should be a good for thought for all of us here in Nigeria. Once you have an encounter with them, there is no point claiming right or wrong, just adhere to their instructions and have Ur peace of mind
Thanks for sharing
As in ehn, they like being in power, so let them have at it. As long as you're clean, do what they want and they'll let you go. Simple.
In all, God will protect us.
Some time ago, it used to happen here in Pakistan too, the policemen used to pick up whoever they wanted to pick up and then leave with the money, but since the age of social media has come, such things have happened here.
Hmm... down here even with social media, not much difference has been made. Although after 2020, it reduced somewhat but we're still facing it. Just sad.
Yeah.
You were very lucky they didn't falsely lay a charge on you. Encounter with police nowadays is always about money whether you are guilty or not.
Money! Money!! And more Money!
That's all these men know. Sad.
Police force were created to protect civilians but they are doing almost the opposite thing. It's really hard to believe and we have nothing to do against them because they had power.