The Nigerian police have reacted to the serious and unveiled criticism of the UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. In an interview in the UK, the leader, who is a Nigerian by birth, said that the British police were far better and she had had positive experience. Whereas she added that the Nigerian police arrested her brother and stole his shoes and watch. She didn’t provide any evidence.
But thousands of Nigerian citizens have had unpleasant experiences when faced by the police who are paid to protect them. The #EndSars protest memories are still fresh. The protest was one of the biggest, not only in Nigeria, but also in the African continent. The police brutality, high-handedness, senseless shooting of unarmed civilians, extortion, intimidation and harassment reached the peak that time.
Although there seems to be some self cleansing in the Nigeria Police Force, the issues are still there. They threaten Nigerians, most especially adventurous youths with their guns, they extort them and even “abduct” Nigerians. It’s ironical that police would kidnap Nigerians instead of rescuing or preventing them from being abducted by kidnappers.
Kemi Badenoch was brutal in her assessment and judgement and it seems her words have reached the highest office in the police. The Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has reacted by sending a wireless message to the police across the country.
He reckoned with the fact that the attitudes, operations and activities of the police have given a bad image to the force. The force specifically made reference to the #EndSars protest in which tens of Police officers were lynched and set ablaze across the country. Online Parrot News would never approve or endorse any violence against the police let alone Nigerian people.
As a result of that, the police have warned its officers against unnecessary arrest, detention of people, notably youths. Their phones must not be collected, seized or even checked. It’s a common practice for the officers to take the civilians’ phones, ransacked them and find one reason to arrest and detain the people if they are not immediately ready to let go some money. The force has also warned its personnel to desist from unlawful acts that bring bad image to the police.
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