*My experience with naija police* episode 2 I remembered my neighbours ordeal wit d police, wer he was arrested after he made a transaction wit d ATM, he explained that their aim was to get u into their station and “anytin wey make dem carry u enter their station kasala don burst” d words played in my head, so there and then I started praying against any spirit that poses contrary to my freedom, “wer ur hostel dey?”d crooked nose officer asked, it was the 1st time he spoke, “its not far 4rm here sir, very close to this place” I replied, he whispered sumtin to d fat older police who gave a nod and smiled, it was a sardonic smile, I knew it wasn’t going to end well, they are not going to let me off easy, which kind wahala be dis one na, “oya get up, handcuff d guy and push him into the car, we dey carry am go In hostel”. I was sandwiched btw two police officers, the cross-eye officer and d one wit stained teeth, d older police officer was sitting at d front seat along wit d officer wit the crooked nose, he was the one driving. The car had this unbelievable stench, I wondered if they had any reason by law to have bad car hygiene, the men were discussing something only they understood, I wasn’t even present with them there though I was present in body my mind was already playing around negative thoughts, I was wondering what my first night in a cell would be like that is if they found anything incriminating in my house. I knew I was innocent and shouldn’t be scared because I was clean and my house was clean, but it was the police, they had a way of making you feel guilty even when you are not. “See that guy with camry car, follow am!” the officer with stained teeth shouted, that brought me back to reality and I wondered what the poor guy in the camry car had done, “no let the guy run comot o…. Overtake am before, no let am turn… arrrgh, bad market” they all casted long looks of disappointment, obviously the guy in the camry had done nothing, it was then it dawned on me that these men were out hunting for innocent victims to prey, unfortunately I have fallen a victim. I gave the directions to my hostel and we got there within minutes, it was about a ten minutes drive from where I was apprehended, it only took fifteen minutes because of the detour they took, while trying to nail an innocent guy. * * * * Coming down from a police van felt embarrassing and humiliating, I was sure that the passerby that saw me come down would have started thinking crazy thoughts, some might assume I belonged to a clique of thieving boys and was apprehended, or that I was caught in the act of duping white people, an act we call yahoo yahoo, well everyone was entitled to their own silly thoughts. I briskly walked towards the gate to the compound, to avoid more eyes, the policemen followed, all four of them, like an entourage they followed and walked at my pace. The hostel was quite empty, except for the voices I was hearing from the room close to mine I could have sworn there was no one in the hostel. I walked towards my room, “this is my room” I pointed and they all followed me, they were all about entering when the officer with the stained teeth looked into the room before mine and saw my neighbours (about four boys) in the room gisting and alerted the rest of them, unfortunately for my neighbours their door was wide open, their protector was unlocked and that gave the policemen access into their room. The crooked nose officer, the older officer and the stained teeth officer all marched into my neighbours flat leaving just the cross-eye officer with me, the idiot. I opened the door to the flat giving the officer access into the apartment, the idiot didn’t even pull off his worn out boots. In my head I was already counting how many offense these men had committed already, one, the had infringed my right of movement and freedom, two, they were searching my house without a warrant, this was enough to sue them and make them pay for damages, but it is Nigeria, who cares about rights and laws. I wondered what this officer was searching for as he was ransacking my apartment checking every unnecessary place. He moved from the parlour to the rooms, turning the beds and looking into the wardrobes, I just stood there watching him like a parent would when they catch a child red handed in the act of stealing. He searched and searched and even raised up d rug, opened the fridge and searched d batrum, crazy guy. My fones wer on d tv stand, the blackberry and the nokia asha 501, fortunately for me the BB was switched off, he picked up d Nokia and was going through my messages, invading my privacy but I couldn’t say anytin, I had no right to. After reading all my messages he finally gave up, I was clean and he was angry dat I was clean. Unfortunately for my neighbours it wasn’t going so well, there was a heated argument going on btw one of d police officers and Biggs, one of my neighbours. Watch out for episode 3 after 10 likes
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 14:50:29 +0000