I live in Port-Harcourt. To be precise off Okporo Road, in Rumuodara area of Obio Akpor LGA of Rivers State.
Yesterday, Thursday 23 August 2012 my wife's sales girl who went to open the shop in the morning for the usual daily sales ran back home. She reported that the shop had been broken into. My wife and I went and saw that the padlocks had been cut open and several goods stolen.
I had to go to work and I encouraged my wife to report the case to the police, since some other shops had also been attacked in recent days. My wife was reluctant, citing the police's knack for asking for money to make 'entry'.
Today I made her go to the police station at Okporo Road, beside AGIP Quarters.
True to type the police officers there asked her for three (3) thousand naira to officially record the case; what they 'to make entry'. My madam called me, angry that I had made her waste her time, because there was no way she was going to part with her money.
This situation happens everyday, denying Nigerians the opportunity to report crimes.
The thing is this:
• Is it right for the Nigerian Police to demand a fee for reporting and recording a crime?
• I think it is not right to demand this money. Does anyone here have a telephone number where I can seek redress?
• The new IG of Police is doing well. I use this medium to publicise this anomaly so that corrective measures be put in place. Because this is a veritable reason why crimes do not get reported for action to be taken.