Yesterday, Tuesday 27 September, was one of those stressful days. I was tired even as I woke up! I just could not get anything worthwhile done in the office all day even with all the projects I need to get going. I left work at about4.45pm and had to take a taxi home since my car was being serviced and other repairs being done on it at the Dealer's Workshop and they said it required 48 hours to complete. My wife was stuck in traffic and there was no way she could get to me in Opebi, Ikeja, from Apapa before 7pm.
At my instance, the taxi driver went through the local airport. I did not know that taxis are barred from going through the airport internal road which connects Ikeja to Ajao Estate! Trust our Police; the ones at the Hajj Camp check-point dutifully stopped us. One Inspector Kadiri, whom I later heard speaking Esan, insisted that he would not heed my pleas on the driver's behalf. I even spoke Esan to him. He said his boss would be upset if he let us go.
Suddenly, the area was engulfed with Tear Gas! What was going on?! I put my handkerchief to my face and tried walking away for some fresh air. In an instant, the entire place between Hajj Camp and the Cargo Terminal was polluted with Tear Gas! I was later told that some Tear Gas canisters in the Hajj Camp Police Armoury had "exploded"(?) and released the gas. The Policemen appeared unaffected. One of them said Tear Gas is their "snuff"!! I was too much in pain to laugh!! I had NEVER experienced Tear Gas. My wife later told me if I had soaked my handkerchief in water I would have coped better. My eyes were burning as if very hot liquid pepper had been poured in them! My throat was itchy and I soon started sneezing.
But the Police would not let the taxi driver go. Inspector Kadiri had left and one plain-clothed guy called Omo (who I later learnt was also from Edo State - Sabongida-Ora) took over. Omo was very hostile and violent. You would think he had apprehended a Boko Haram suicide-bomber!!
He rejected my pleadings and said I could go. I had already taken my laptop, folder and lunch bag with my food and water flasks, and newspapers from the boot of the taxi, and paid the driver the N1,500 fare we agreed on (it should not have been that high but I could not be waiting for the staff I sent to get me a taxi to be "pricing" each taxi that came by Opebi Road at rush-hour! I had even budgeted to pay N2,000!!). I told Omo I could not just leave the taxi driver to his plight. Omo asked for the car key and, when the driver appeared to resist while still begging, Omo decided it was time to use force and engaged the driver in a wrestle hold and threatened to seize the car. Force was totally unnecessary as there were as many as four or so armed Policemen present at the check-point; so there was no way the taxi driver could successfully resist arrest. The driver then tried to start his car and the ignition would not even roll! Omo decided that the driver was being overly clever and that he had manipulated something to disable the car so as to evade arrest.
The Police Stations "CDO" (what is that?!), an Igbo-speaking robust woman who looked nothing like a security personnel with her flabby look, eventually joined the unfolding drama. She was cross with Omo that he was being "lenient" with the taxi driver. The driver was ordered to drive his vehicle to the station. Of course, this was not possible since the car's ignition had failed. She then directed that a second taxi which had equally been stopped for the same "crime" should take Omo and my taxi driver to their station which was just about 100 metres ahead of us. As they drove away, I walked along with the "CDO" to the station still pleading with her. She was polite to me but I'd not agree to "have mercy" on the taxi driver as I requested. When we reached the Police Station, I entered the reception and asked for Omo and the taxi driver. One of the Policeman retorted "Oga, I dey greet you and you no even answer me; na question you dey ask. Oya, go find the person wey you dey look for na!" The Tear Gas concentration inside the Police Station was too high and I was too dazed from its burning in my eyes to respond. I simply hurried away to take another taxi home! And I said a prayer for God to protect and grant my taxi driver His Favour so he will not be extorted.
Why are we like this? Why do we hate ourselves so? Why do the poor oppress the poor? Why are our Police so corrupt? Why are the Policemen so uncivil, uncouth, crass and illiterate?
Why are the Police not our friend? Why?
I now understood better why Boko Haram may remain a menace for some time if God does not help Nigeria whatever President Jonathan and his security chiefs do by way of strategy, intelligence and counter-terrorism. It came home to me lucidly why the anti-corruption war must be a Citizens Action Movement. I realised the more why we must Stand Against Corruption and Kleptocrats (SACK!) in Nigeria!
And we need a rebirth of our Police Force from the top shots down to the strap-less recruits just leaving the Police Training College!
The good news is: We Can Do It!! I believe in God. I believe in Nigeria.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!
Eghes Eyieyien
Lagos.
28th September, 2011
But the Police would not let the taxi driver go. Inspector Kadiri had left and one plain-clothed guy called Omo (who I later learnt was also from Edo State - Sabongida-Ora) took over. Omo was very hostile and violent. You would think he had apprehended a Boko Haram suicide-bomber!!
He rejected my pleadings and said I could go. I had already taken my laptop, folder and lunch bag with my food and water flasks, and newspapers from the boot of the taxi, and paid the driver the N1,500 fare we agreed on (it should not have been that high but I could not be waiting for the staff I sent to get me a taxi to be "pricing" each taxi that came by Opebi Road at rush-hour! I had even budgeted to pay N2,000!!). I told Omo I could not just leave the taxi driver to his plight. Omo asked for the car key and, when the driver appeared to resist while still begging, Omo decided it was time to use force and engaged the driver in a wrestle hold and threatened to seize the car. Force was totally unnecessary as there were as many as four or so armed Policemen present at the check-point; so there was no way the taxi driver could successfully resist arrest. The driver then tried to start his car and the ignition would not even roll! Omo decided that the driver was being overly clever and that he had manipulated something to disable the car so as to evade arrest.
The Police Stations "CDO" (what is that?!), an Igbo-speaking robust woman who looked nothing like a security personnel with her flabby look, eventually joined the unfolding drama. She was cross with Omo that he was being "lenient" with the taxi driver. The driver was ordered to drive his vehicle to the station. Of course, this was not possible since the car's ignition had failed. She then directed that a second taxi which had equally been stopped for the same "crime" should take Omo and my taxi driver to their station which was just about 100 metres ahead of us. As they drove away, I walked along with the "CDO" to the station still pleading with her. She was polite to me but I'd not agree to "have mercy" on the taxi driver as I requested. When we reached the Police Station, I entered the reception and asked for Omo and the taxi driver. One of the Policeman retorted "Oga, I dey greet you and you no even answer me; na question you dey ask. Oya, go find the person wey you dey look for na!" The Tear Gas concentration inside the Police Station was too high and I was too dazed from its burning in my eyes to respond. I simply hurried away to take another taxi home! And I said a prayer for God to protect and grant my taxi driver His Favour so he will not be extorted.
Why are we like this? Why do we hate ourselves so? Why do the poor oppress the poor? Why are our Police so corrupt? Why are the Policemen so uncivil, uncouth, crass and illiterate?
Why are the Police not our friend? Why?
I now understood better why Boko Haram may remain a menace for some time if God does not help Nigeria whatever President Jonathan and his security chiefs do by way of strategy, intelligence and counter-terrorism. It came home to me lucidly why the anti-corruption war must be a Citizens Action Movement. I realised the more why we must Stand Against Corruption and Kleptocrats (SACK!) in Nigeria!
And we need a rebirth of our Police Force from the top shots down to the strap-less recruits just leaving the Police Training College!
The good news is: We Can Do It!! I believe in God. I believe in Nigeria.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!
Eghes Eyieyien
Lagos.
28th September, 2011
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