By Oluwatimilehin George. My unsavoury encounter with police officers of Area H command, Opposite Kosofe Local Government Ogudu Lagos on M...
By Oluwatimilehin George.
My unsavoury encounter with police officers of Area H command, Opposite Kosofe Local Government Ogudu Lagos on Monday 10th April,2017 around 9.30 am in the morning.
I had just walked down the newly Commissioned Ojota Pedestrian bridge going to my local government. Four men of the police force (3 men and one woman) greeted me. I greeted them back.
"Corper, what is your name", he questioned, I responded Toyosi Timilehin George, me trying to be a good boy. He then proceeded to ask where I am off to. My local government(Kosofe local government)I responded.
He brought out his identity card, it was at that point I knew I was in for a serious gobe. I smiled. He then asked which state am I from and which institution did I graduate from. I responded LAUTECH OGBOMOSO. There confidence doubled at this point. I was then asked to bring my phone for check which I declined sternly. One of them came down from the red golf they were all seated in, I told him "you have no right to check my phone as it is confidential and personal sir".
He got angry and said because I graduated from Lautech, I am a suspect. I got angry and told him that was inappropriate as my institution is known for excellence, integrity and service. I also told him how will such come from of a law enforcement officer. He told me to enter into their cab which I declined. At that point people were already gathering in numbers to know what was going on. I told him he can follow me to my local government but we would take a public transport. They agreed happily. That was when I knew I also needed to do something clever.
We walked to a nearby newspaper stand and i told them what happened and how I needed two people which I will choose from to follow me with them as I cannot trust the police guys. They asked what happened and I explained. An old man who I suppose should be in His early sixties volunteered but wanted me to resolve it amicably with them their.
The only thing they wanted was to search my phone. My stance was also my phone remains my privacy and no one can intrude into it by force. People seeing how confident I was. They started saying in Yoruba "this one na tough meat oo" "this one papa must sabi people" and blah blah. I dialled two of my lawyer friends phone number, they didn't pick. I also called Barrister Inibehe Effiong but network issh. Although he picked but network disappointed and it dropped.
One of the officers called me and started explaining but my stance remains my phone is my PRIVACY.
The other then told me if I wanted to Prove stubborn he would use police power to jail me. I smiled and asked if he knew who I am and who my family were and why he may also loose his job on our little argument. His other Colleagues kept wondering what sort of confidence I possess to give such responses. He then told me they do same in advanced countries like the US. My response this time was US isn't Nigeria. He then asked me how many countries I had been to. I replied that was none of his business and how many has he been to too.
We settled and concluded going to my local government. We took two bikes. Two of them on one and the elderly man and I on one. Just before we got to Ogudu my Local Government secretariat. They told the bike man to pack in front of their Station. I told them that was not my destination as we needed to see my LGI. He told me to enter into their Station which I declined sternly. At that point they were so sure my parents must be influential. They called the elderly man who volunteered to follow us and perhaps they told him to tell me to apologise and go which I said no as I have not committed any offence talk less of apologising.
Eventually I was told to go. I thanked the old man and waved a taxi down to take me to my local government.
Today, I said no to impunity and false accusations. I stood up for what I believed in not minding what may follow.
Dear Nigerian police, stop all this harassment of innocent citizens. Stop accusing people of who they are not. Your work is to protect the interest and integrity of citizens. If you don't, they will keep killing you anyhow and you will keep meeting your nemesis daily. I heard five of you were bombed in Isawo(near Ikorodu town) over the weekend. As long as you keep harassing people like me, you will keep meeting your waterloo everyday. Until you stop all this your show of shame. They will keep killing you anyhow.
My unsavoury encounter with police officers of Area H command, Opposite Kosofe Local Government Ogudu Lagos on Monday 10th April,2017 around 9.30 am in the morning.
I had just walked down the newly Commissioned Ojota Pedestrian bridge going to my local government. Four men of the police force (3 men and one woman) greeted me. I greeted them back.
"Corper, what is your name", he questioned, I responded Toyosi Timilehin George, me trying to be a good boy. He then proceeded to ask where I am off to. My local government(Kosofe local government)I responded.
He brought out his identity card, it was at that point I knew I was in for a serious gobe. I smiled. He then asked which state am I from and which institution did I graduate from. I responded LAUTECH OGBOMOSO. There confidence doubled at this point. I was then asked to bring my phone for check which I declined sternly. One of them came down from the red golf they were all seated in, I told him "you have no right to check my phone as it is confidential and personal sir".
He got angry and said because I graduated from Lautech, I am a suspect. I got angry and told him that was inappropriate as my institution is known for excellence, integrity and service. I also told him how will such come from of a law enforcement officer. He told me to enter into their cab which I declined. At that point people were already gathering in numbers to know what was going on. I told him he can follow me to my local government but we would take a public transport. They agreed happily. That was when I knew I also needed to do something clever.
We walked to a nearby newspaper stand and i told them what happened and how I needed two people which I will choose from to follow me with them as I cannot trust the police guys. They asked what happened and I explained. An old man who I suppose should be in His early sixties volunteered but wanted me to resolve it amicably with them their.
The only thing they wanted was to search my phone. My stance was also my phone remains my privacy and no one can intrude into it by force. People seeing how confident I was. They started saying in Yoruba "this one na tough meat oo" "this one papa must sabi people" and blah blah. I dialled two of my lawyer friends phone number, they didn't pick. I also called Barrister Inibehe Effiong but network issh. Although he picked but network disappointed and it dropped.
One of the officers called me and started explaining but my stance remains my phone is my PRIVACY.
The other then told me if I wanted to Prove stubborn he would use police power to jail me. I smiled and asked if he knew who I am and who my family were and why he may also loose his job on our little argument. His other Colleagues kept wondering what sort of confidence I possess to give such responses. He then told me they do same in advanced countries like the US. My response this time was US isn't Nigeria. He then asked me how many countries I had been to. I replied that was none of his business and how many has he been to too.
We settled and concluded going to my local government. We took two bikes. Two of them on one and the elderly man and I on one. Just before we got to Ogudu my Local Government secretariat. They told the bike man to pack in front of their Station. I told them that was not my destination as we needed to see my LGI. He told me to enter into their Station which I declined sternly. At that point they were so sure my parents must be influential. They called the elderly man who volunteered to follow us and perhaps they told him to tell me to apologise and go which I said no as I have not committed any offence talk less of apologising.
Eventually I was told to go. I thanked the old man and waved a taxi down to take me to my local government.
Today, I said no to impunity and false accusations. I stood up for what I believed in not minding what may follow.
Dear Nigerian police, stop all this harassment of innocent citizens. Stop accusing people of who they are not. Your work is to protect the interest and integrity of citizens. If you don't, they will keep killing you anyhow and you will keep meeting your nemesis daily. I heard five of you were bombed in Isawo(near Ikorodu town) over the weekend. As long as you keep harassing people like me, you will keep meeting your waterloo everyday. Until you stop all this your show of shame. They will keep killing you anyhow.
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