What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell - Family (4) - Nairaland
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| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Albertone(m): 8:09pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
airsaylongcome: That's not an excuse. In Nigeria,you drive on the right side of the lane and not the left. Driving one way means you were driving on the left lane. 1 Like |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Idaytesj29(m): 8:11pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
pacespot: The prison is better cos inmates clean their cells by themselves twice daily. But just stay out of trouble. Have you noticed that if you visit people and you have to sleep over, you will still find it hard to quickly settle In. Now imagine Prison or Police Cell. You get it? 4 Likes |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Idaytesj29(m): 8:14pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
shortIGBOman: Unless you are an officer and his superior. Then they will ask for identification, apologise and let you go. |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by proclinician: 8:18pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
GboyegaD: Okay u ask police officer for arrest warrant. Hehe 1 Like |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Idaytesj29(m): 8:18pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Lumina1702:[b] 1 Like |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Goldbw122(m): 8:20pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
KiNg0G:This is just the truth and the fact but you know the truth is usually bitter.. |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Segzy19: 8:24pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Wait for your turn so you can hold your grounds... Then we will know you are not dull. Besto: 2 Likes |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by QuinModah(f): 8:25pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
By Ventura1 On Dec 21, 2015 I would like to share the story of my encounter with the Nigerian police in Lagos, Nigeria specifically with the men of the Idimu Police station, Area M. As this is a story that might resonate with a lot of Nigerians, I am not unaware that the story that I am about to share is common but I believe that the fact that this happens almost daily should not allow us to see it as acceptable norm or behavior. We are after all human beings who should be accorded human dignity. On the 15th of December 2015 at about 11am I left my house in search of fuel for my car and generator, after being able to get the product only for the car at the NNPC station I proceeded to drive down to an ATM point to withdraw some money as I intended to get some more fuel. I got to the Isheri round about very near Idimu and I was about to take the turn when I saw a police vehicle by my side with a man waving, I stopped thinking that they were requesting right of way but I noticed he was pointing that I park. I parked just by the side as a law abiding citizen and soon after 1 policeman came over and requested that he get into the vehicle, I opened the door and he asked who owned the vehicle to which I replied that I did, he also asked for my vehicle particulars, driver license all which I provided and he confirmed to be ok and intact. He then proceeded to ask me what I do to which I replied that I was a civil servant and also showed him my identity card. I expected him to exit the vehicle at that point but he asked to see my phone, my two phones meanwhile were visibly displayed by my side. I asked him why he would want to see my phone as I felt that was a violation of my privacy but he insisted and I felt since he had returned my vehicle papers I would get the phones back immediately. At that point a 2nd police officer had walked to my side of the window, he also requested to see my other blackberry phone. I complied knowing that I had nothing to hide , it was barely 20 seconds when I gave the 2nd policeman that he asked me who had the email accounts on my blackberry device, I replied and told him I did. The next thing I heard shocked me as the 2nd policeman made a baseless, unwarranted, logic defying statement and accused me of being an online fraudster, I couldn’t believe what I had just heard, how do you stop a man in his car without any proof, any report or prior investigation and label him an online fraudster I denied this and said I was not an online fraudster as I was a civil servant working with the government and that I had identified myself earlier on with the 1st police officer. He said he could see 2 email addresses on the phone and that was proof that I was an online fraudster, I told them that having multiple email addresses was not illegal and didn’t make me an online fraudster. All this while my phones were with them, I was told to drive to the police station to clear the accusations at that point I knew the police officers were being mischievous. While on the short drive to the police station the police man started asking questions like “e be like say you don live abroad before?” to which I did not respond. We got to the police station and the police man continued to stay in the vehicle, I kept asking what I was brought to the station for without any valid response as he kept looking through my Facebook messages, pictures, WhatsApp, emails. Finally he said we should get out of the car and was joined by the 2nd policeman. I was taken to a canteen in the police premise at the Idimu station, there I was asked to explain pictures of my trip abroad, the picture of my passport, my letter by COREN that I was certified as a registered engineer, my pictures at work, sms sent to relatives wishing them a happy new month, emails from my bank, chats with a colleague at work who was telling me his travel plans, internal memos from my work place and other private information. This they said showed I was online fraudster , I could not believe this, how would anyone with a sane mind claim that by sending a sms or becoming an engineer, owning multiple email addresses or travelling equate to becoming an online fraudster. It was a preposterous suggestion that I kept refuting, but these 2 policemen were hell bent on warping the rule of law. I told them since I had responded to all they had asked and as such I had nothing to be held down for, this got them more adamant and they started to say I was acting smart, after almost an hour I was asked to follow them and that they would show me, I was taken to the anti vice office on the 1st floor of a 1 storey building. I got there and the office had 3 women and another man sitted, by then they were already saying they would deal with me as they kept going through my phone they then saw some emails from a premier online store in Nigeria (names withheld) and asked how I came about that, I explained that I registered on the website and that anyone could do that. At that juncture the 1st policeman Mr. Godwin Imo (384734) retorted and said any online business is a fraud, he said I should provide an ID card from the online store, I said I did not have an ID card from the store as you only needed to register and tried explaining that just like people were on Facebook, Facebook do not issue ID’s .it was most heart-wrenching to see the display of ignorance by an officer in this modern world. I was then told to write a statement I asked the reason why I should write any statement as I was not informed that I was arrested or being detained neither was there any case reported against me and I followed them because I thought it was just a regular traffic stop. Immediately I said that 1 of the women in the office replied in a most aggressive manner that I was not serious and I must write a statement with the policeman boasting that this was the anti robbery and not a traffic department. Knowing very well the news of how innocent people are paraded as robbers or even dead bodies displayed as robbers killed in gun battles. I decided to thread more softly with care even as I reminded them that I work and serve the Federal government just like them. At this point I asked that I be allowed to make a call, to my shock I was refused saying I could only make a call when I had written a statement. This was a brazen denial of my basic right, I told them that I was not writing any statement at which they began to sound more menacing saying they were going to make a case out of this, another woman in the office then said I should write a statement stating all that happened and my response to any question they might ask me, at this point the 2nd officer Mr. Okah James (365635) forcefully said I should write a statement and was claiming he would write to the British embassy that I had a criminal record including all sorts of threats like writing to the online store etc , this only proved to me that these men were highly incapable of critical thinking and I had to be more careful to save my life. I decided to write a statement only if to be able to call and notify someone of my present location before anything untoward happened. While I was filling the information details on the statement form I had filled my phone number, home address, e.t.c I was stopped short by Officer Okah James and said the best I could do was to bail myself. I pleaded to make a call so someone could come and help me, I believe the officers hearing “help” took it for me wanting to bring someone to bring money and I was allowed to make a call to a family member the Officer Okah James even spoke with my family member and I pleaded that they wait as they said I had to take them to the online stores office at Akowonjo road. To cut the story short, after asking me to get into their vehicle with me being told I would be handcuffed after I protested severely. My family member came vouched for me and seeing that the person was elderly they soft pedaled and told lies that I was an online fraudster and I claimed to be working with the online store, a call was put to a police officer known by my family member who then spoke with Officer Okah James. After about an hour with the 2 officers they said since they had spoken with a superior officer they would let me go if I paid 10,000 naira for fuel. Seeing no headway we had to part with some money, before I was let off after I had spent over 3 hours. I can only imagine what would have happened if could not speak up or I was some uneducated persons who had no form of identification, worst still if I had no money to settle them. I feel sad for Nigeria, the very people who should protect and defend us are those who abuse and intimidate us. This is what you get even when you’re law abiding and dutifully serve your country. NB: For record purpose I was lucky enough to have voice recordings for some of the events. My questions and the posers that arise are these... i. Is the Nigerian police allowed to indiscriminately violate your privacy without a warrant as in the case of my phones been searched? ii. Is it legal for the police to hold you in their custody and refuse you a right to make a phone call and do they have such power? iii. Do the police have the power to make a fictitious charge against you and ask you to pay bail for a charge they can’t prove? iv. How is justice obtained for cases such as this where people are falsely accused and detained? I hope this gets to the appropriate authorities and I can get answers as I am actually worried because I ply this route all the time and several Nigerians including myself are at the mercy of these men. All the same I love Nigeria and I am proudly one but the future needs us to speak out against evil and any form of oppression for the better tomorrow we all desires. 12 Likes 5 Shares |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Pascopele: 8:28pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
I had similar experience in the past with this same Idimu police,was taken to the station where they started all sort of fictitious accusations. Was driving my moms car. They even took me to a cyber cafe a few blocks away to access my email for possible exhibit which they found none. On a normal day, I would not have given them the opportunity to harass me as such but on that fateful day, I had over 200k naira locked in my dashboard and all the time their so called interrogation was going on, all I could think of was the money that belonged to a family member which I was to pay into an account for the person on my way out. Even tho I had no cockroach in my cupboard, I knew once they set their eyes on such an amount of money ,na different case them go dey agitate. To cut the long story short, I hid the key to the car and acted like it got lost and when I was asked, I told them I gave the key to one of them so they started looking for the key to the car amongst themselves. Having seen that I got the whole bunch of them confused,I told them the only way was if my mom brought the 2nd key to the car which was when they started shivering as they didnt know who the owner would be . I knew if they had seen that money in the car, they would level all forms of accusations just for me to part with some of it of which I wasn't ready to give them a cent.. Imagine if these kind of officers see you with a huge amount of money in the night. Your case go be like Suya. Looking at the officers and the pig den they call Police Station is enough incentive to give them what they want. This are animals in uniform and they can do and undo. Poverty is written all over their faces. As much as I hate bribes, I think you did the right thing getting out of that hellhole. Is there a way to report to the DPO of that Station or to the Commissioner of Police. This officers must be held accountable. What ever happened to Officer Friendly ?. These are pure official armed robbers in police uniform. Now tell me the difference between armed robbers and these officers? No difference. No difference. Police kill for money so it isn't news. So sorry bros but it's obvious they r thieves now? Once they sight a fine car sorry the rest is history. It is only God that will judge them no wonder their children suffer. They forget about their families when perpetuating wickedness on innocent civilians. 7 Likes |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Owologbo(m): 8:30pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
T0T0fucker:But those that were arrested with him can form a team and resist the the old ones na, 1 Like |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Albertone(m): 8:31pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
olaeffect: There is no where it is stated that as a criminal,you must do x cut, you must dress in x way,you must have x styles. A criminal decides to wear ripped jeans doesn't make all ripped jeans wearers criminals.Ditto for hairstyles and the others. 4 Likes |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by GboyegaD(m): 8:32pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
proclinician: Na so na. Apparently, twenage exuberance dey worry me. My pale laugh tire like say no be him way I dey follow say no follow anybody do graduate but maintain your rights be respected. |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Pascopele: 8:33pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Ekealterego:Try this with Ajah Police men, you go know the difference between A and B an space. 5 Likes |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by GboyegaD(m): 8:34pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
olaeffect: You are a major part of our challenges in Nigeria. 2 Likes |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Albertone(m): 8:36pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
QuinModah: Did this happen to you or it was culled from somewhere? 1 Like |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by davillian(m): 8:42pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Lmao, the day police raid and picked me and my friends Looked us up in the cell as we enter one idiot slap one of our friend e turn royal rumble that night They gas separate us cus eyes and mouth don burst on both sides  ....6 Likes |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Scientheosopher(m): 8:50pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
KiNg0G: Your rights were largely violated. While takening you to the station is constitutional, they weren't supposed to put you in a cell, especially one with excreta— something that harms health! What they should have done is put you in a clean room with basic "sleepy and nighty comforts"! And you should have been set free of charge, because they later found out you aren't a suspect. Yet you say this is not to discredit the Nigerian Police!. It seems you liked the treatment. Or perhaps you don't know the meaning of that word. 3 Likes |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Dybala11(m): 8:53pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Besto:What is this one saying sef, they shot a dude and roped him as a hardened armed robber all because he stood his ground against them. You don't reason with animals oga. A schoolmate of mine was also arrested in the vehicle taking him to school, they took him to the ATM stands and emptied his bank account. Just pray for God to continue to keep you from those animals called Nigerian Police o. |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by HonestFriend: 8:54pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
penocrat1: No b only vouch for u, na vote for u.. U never see when dem fling your ID card put for gutter? Nigeria police are more useless than ones imagination.. 1 Like |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by KiNg0G: 8:59pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Scientheosopher:Bros, you talk like say nor be Naija we all dey. You want make them start to manhunt for me again for Post when enter fp...if the problem start you go dey there with me? Agbeg free me jhor. I nor get level, I nor get connection. We all know how the country be. For you info no one likes the treatment from Nigeria police. |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Neddstark: 9:05pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Idaytesj29: Exactly bro. Being in jail can be mentally frustrating, worst if it is a Nigerian jail. You don't ever get better leaving a Nigerian jail. It makes one worse. 4 Likes |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by shortIGBOman: 9:11pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Idaytesj29: Police themselves dey fear. When you look fresh and responsible, police will never harass you. Talk to them calmly and see how they respect you. I've been driving from Owerri to Abuja, Kaduna and Jos. Ones every month. Police have never asked for my particulars. We just exchange pleasantries and I zoom off. The Police in the North are best. Those ones respect everyone they see. Cause them no know who you be. You could relate to IG wife or a big politician. You can drive in the North for a year and Police will never harass your for particulars. Na for South police and Soldiers dey flex their muscles. 8 Likes
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| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Haakeem(m): 9:12pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Reading comments shared by the op and the viewers now makes me hate police with passion, tweh! 1 Like |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by pharmaking: 9:13pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
I can relate with number 1. The day I was faced with this kind of situation, my instinct told me to go in with small change.I got in only to meet an organised system inside. Them get Presido, OC Torture, OC Accounts and Finance etc. Omo, na my pocket make me escape OC torture o. 1 Like |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by solomonUC(m): 9:15pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
So what took you there the first time? 4 Likes
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| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by airsaylongcome: 9:19pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Albertone: Even When the entire two-lane road has been made unidirectional? |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Albert0011(m): 9:26pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Neddstark:Bro i get ur point.  But some times u will be on ur own problem will come and meet u,that was my own case. I dey inside my room wey police come burst me. |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Albertone(m): 9:31pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
airsaylongcome: So why didn't they arrest everyone? |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Idaytesj29(m): 9:34pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Neddstark: We just have to stay out of trouble. |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by airsaylongcome: 9:36pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Albertone: Arrest everyone? The other people were driving in the direction that the entire road had been converted to. I had turned right into the road and was intercepted immediately by the police. I was from out of town and didn't know the road had been converted to a uni-directional road. I had always used that route before and it was bidirectional So no, there were no "everyone" to arrest |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by ikorodureporta: 9:38pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
Dem no burst yr ass  Wetin that money go buy inside cell |
| Re: What I Learned In A Nigerian Police Cell by Advancedman(m): 9:43pm On Feb 19, 2022 |
penocrat1: Naija police wey dey break Id throw away. |
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