My encounters with Nigerian police

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Encounters with Nigerian police are mostly unpalatable, especially during the pre-ENDSARS era in Nigeria, which witnessed a substantial evolution (even though not optimal) in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The NPF has several labels such as POLICE IS YOUR FRIEND, BAIL IS FREE, e.t.c., but the reverse is the case. Most would rather say that most police are not friendly, especially to the youth or someone who may have little to offer them in terms of bribes. "Bail is free?" Just recently, less than two weeks ago, after a case settlement at the police station, I was called aside to "SETTLE THE POLICE" and, because I felt I should gift them rather than settle them as they requested, I offered a N2000 ($2.7), which was outrightly rejected on the claim that it was too small for them to report to their superior. I gently turned my back and wanted to leave (I was a third party in the case; I only came to intervene), but on second thought, I did not want to leave the family I came for in the hands of the police. Eventually I made some calls, and after a few "YES SIRS" to my police connection, they collected the N2000.

The above is very common in the life of the average Nigerian: once you are stopped by the police, you expect trouble, and only on a few occasions do they interact on friendly terms with you. I will not deny that I have some police contacts, acquaintances, or friends. I believe you need the police to intervene in police matters, but you cannot keep them too close.

Sometime in 2014, my close friend Rilwan traveled down to Ilorin and wanted me to escort him to his Ifelodun local government secretariat at Share. On our way back after he got what we went there for, we were stopped by the police. I drove my Honda Accord, and I was in my 500-L medical school. The policeman did the usual interrogations and searches and found nothing implicating (I have always ensured my car papers have been up to date, even up until the spare tire and fire extinguisher). I should also state that, when cars are stopped, there are police checks that are different from those of vehicle inspection officers (VIO) or the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); however, most of these boundary checks are overstepped, especially by the police.

The police officer thus mentioned to me that one of my car documents was a fake (I cannot recollect exactly, either proof of ownership or road worthiness) and that, I should have renewed my car papers at a licensed motor renewal office instead of the FRSC office that renewed it for me. I must also state here that the current papers I did in March were done at a VIO office, which was cheaper compared to doing them at a FRSC office or otherwise. I told the officer that I was not in a position to know if the document was fake or original since I did the renewal at a duly registered FRSC office (which I described to him and is equally popular in Ilorin). He further emphasized the ingenuity of the paper and said, "Do you know that this is a traffic offense, and a traffic offense is equal to a criminal offense?" This was where I lost control and got angry. He asked me to settle him there, or I would be taken to their station.

I told him straight on, "I am not going to give you one naira!" This infuriated him, and my friend Rilwan began to plead. Immediately Rilwan heard what I said, he knew I was pissed off, and my mind was made (by then, I knew the station the police officer was talking about, and I had a minimal intervention through their boss through my elder brother, who was and is in the Nigerian Navy, so I was unshaken {LOL}). Rilwan took the police officer to a corner, and I heard when he pleaded with the officer, telling him I helped him to his LGA for a document he needed. I stood right beside my car at their checkpoint some distance away from Ilorin while both of them discussed. Eventually, the police officer asked us to go. I definitely did not give him a dime, and if my friend did (although he claimed he did not), I was least interested.

I believe my encounter was mild because it has been reported that there have been unfavorable incidents of police encounters with civilians on express roads where there would be little or no intervention. Also, not out of pride or disrespect, I hardly accord police officers the title "SIR" as it puts me in a position of inferiority before any interrogation or search. Most times, I simply respond to their greetings or oblige their interrogations with no sign of hostility or bias. I am also fortunate that my work identity gives me some significant privileges whenever I get stopped at police checkpoints, and I get a free pass almost always.

Important lessons to note:

Be law-abiding citizens; have your identity and documents handy; be civil; do not drag matters out with uniformed men, especially in isolated environments; and finally, endeavor to have a few uniformed men on your contact list; they can come in handy.

Thank you for taking the time to read. I would appreciate your comments and contributions.