A LIB reader (who wants to stay anonymous until the case is over) wants to share her story with you all. Below is an unedited email she sent to me about her ordeal in the hands of some police men in Port Harcourt yesterday, June 1, 2011.
The picture doesn't say much, just my palms bleeding. It happened at about 5.25pm along choba rumuokoro road. I was in a cab and a policeman stopped us as usual to collectN50, which the driver willingly gave him and asked dat he got the evening number. The policeman refused and said he would give him the afternoon number,just imagine,they kept on and on and so i signaled to the policeman to save our time, that he wasn't only delaying the driver but all the passengers and that became my offense.
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| Her bruised laps |
He started raining abuses which i laughed at and told him its N2O that is his problem. He walked away from the drivers side came over my side,kept on ranting and just slapped ♏ε̲̣. I immediately dropped down from the cab and slapped him back. He held ♏ε̲̣ on both wrists and was dragging ♏ε̲̣ away from the taxi,i kept on hitting his hands to let go. Good enough, i had a pen in my right hand and with it i was hitting his hand severally. He sustained injuries(well o)on his hands and then let go. I scared him by saying U̶̲̥̅̊ don't mess with just anyone and drew out my I.D which i showed him. As at that point,he got scared and mellowed,a crowd had gathered and i was asked to get in the car and drive on.
Unfortunately for ♏ε̲̣, we were parked in front of choba police station,so 3 ladies on muffti(policewomen not on duty) walked on and wen they saw his wrist bleeding, they rushed at ♏ε̲̣. One lady now slapped ♏ε̲̣ severally,kicked ♏ε̲̣ and i was taken into the station to write a statement. The same policeman who was sober now arose to the occasion and started cursing and threatening. After writing, a detention form was filled for my arrest and then i got scared. It was just my word aginst them, here i was crying and in a police station, i wasn't even allowed to use my phone, they went thru my phone to make sure i hadn't any pic of the policeman.
Then, my options came, that i should go on my knees and apologize or be taken behind the counter. Luckily, the driver hadn't left, knowing the area more than i do and knowing what these people are capable of, he came in and joined in the begging. As at this time, the time was like 7.30pm, and so the begging,appealing, cajoling started. Imagine saying sorry to someone, when deep down you really want to squeeze his neck and make him realise how wicked they are. After the era of begging, that i had to pay for his medical bills, i told him to come over to my coy's hospital but he refused and said they wanted N5000. When i said i didn't have that amount, they were already dragging ♏ε̲̣ in. So i got 3k and the cab-guy got 2k and we gave them. It was at about 8.30 - 9pm now. They said they weren't going to collect the money except i sign an undertaking. I signed that i wld not take the case beyond that point and was released.
This morning, I've reported the case to my office,so I and the chief security officer are on our way to the office of the PRO of the police department, Rivers state. i would lay my complaints there first,then would let you know how it unfolds. Thanks for your help, will keep you all posted
34 comments:
After forming Mrs. Rambo, you begin dey cry for behind counter. Men you f* up the whole joint. If you know sey you nor get liver reach, you for no put your mouth inside cab driver wahala. You also assaulted a police officer which is a big issue. I wish you well...
On the other hand, I think Nigerians should start a crime watch website and take camera pictures of police men asking for bribe then upload them. This shame and exposure will greatly reduce their activities. Naija nor like disgrace or exposure. Take a pic of their name tag and their face and upload it on the internet. The issue will reduce drastically.
you should not have signed the undertaking.
My sister I will not support your fighting with a policeman oo.don't you realize it was risky? What if he was the type that is trigger-happy? And he would have claimed accidental discharge? And secondly..why would you be bragging that you wounded him well well...meanwhile are you a man or a woman sef? Cos a lady should not be bragging about the kind of things you said you did..abi you want to turn to 2nd Mrs wigwe? Na wa for we nigerians oo,and to evEn think you are proudly bringing your matter to lindas blog,make we clap for you that you fought well abi? Or lindas blog has turn to Jerry springer show...Abet my dear friend if you are the troublesome type pls change your ways,you should be a lady at all times and not put your mouth into matter that does not concern you,even though what the police officer did was wrong,but why out of all the people in the taxi na only you get mouth to talk? Now wetin you want make Linda do for you? Go fight the police force..abi go find the police man? Or better still you want make Jonathan read your story come compensate you? Or you want make we busy people come begin find solution for police and N20 matter? Or you want to become a star ? Abet my sister if inamorata to advice you I will tell not to even bother to take the case further..E do...just learn to keep ur mouth shut and thank God say the police man wey you meet dye cool..if na those type wey don smoke IGbo finish??? Na for this day and sun we for dye read this your story now...a word is enough for the wise....
Sorry for the bad experience.
We are know how Nigeria Policemen behave, as for me, i dont interfere when they stop the driver of any commercial cars and demand for money. It is better to keep away from them. Lets try and avoid any confrontation with NPF, they are no citizens friend.
I agree with dat notion uploading dz greedy men will reduce their liver.....but whoeva dz person was U̶̲̥̅̊ get liver o!!!!NAIJA
I like Anon 5:27's idea, and agree somewhat with him/her. She kinda provoked them, although I do not agree with the actions of the police officers.
In addition, she should not have signed the undertaking, although I understand that she was forced to do so which would be understandable in the eyes of a judge.
Good luck, and keep us updated.
My dear to be honest,what you did was wrong and you took a very big risk. What if he had shot you? you wldnt be alive to tell this story.
If you were able to slap a policeman, you shouldnt have bothered kneeling and begging. that's just my 2cents. If you wanna be tough,be tough till d end.
I will also advice that you drop the case.
You verbally and physically assaulted a policeman, so you definitely deserve to be taken to the police station.
Notwithstanding, I do not approve of them beating you and all these could have been avoided if you just kept your mouth shut from the beginning.
Only a living rat can chase a cat. Nuff said.
Linda, does she have the following information:
- the involved police officer's names
- any proof of the incident
- any witnesses willing to corroborate her story
If so, she needs to get all that in writing and on film and send it to you. I'm sure you are in a better position to get this information to the right hands so that this issue is escalated appropriately. I will contact you tomorrow.
Police bullying and brutality has got to be nipped in the bud whenever it happens. It's not a matter of she shouldn't have done Rambo, signed undertaking or engaged the officer. If this is how the incident happened, it should never have happened period.
This woman self your own too much, The police man was talking to the driver and you just jumped in and concluded 20 Naira, You are lucky he did not bring you out and shoot you right there. You are not even ashame of yourself he slapped you and you slapped him back .... Lol . You are such a lucky lady it was not one of those policemen that take weed, He would have scattered your brain right there. Madam i am not in support of you fighting a police man. Many people have been killed like this before pls careful. You are a lady how can u even slap a man, I see you as a very aggressive person .pls dont make such mistake again. If you like go to the PRO , Police is Police, they will always support their person. I dont support the police man too. But madam you too fast. Easy ooooo. Life na jeje
This woman na Lion, iu are bragging u wounded him very well lol, And i guess a man will marry you or you are even married, I wonder what you will use on your husband... Maybe Knife, Madam in your life dont ever fight a police man again. You are just lucky that one was in a good mood, If not he would have blew off your brain . You know Naija he will killu and go free you that vry well. So becarefull next time and dont be too forward. i do not support the police man action. But Madam take am easy ooooo. Noting Concern Agbero with Overload.
I sorry for this lady..haa for naija !
I dont tell my fellow man stupidbut I guess you will forgive me if I said tht act was a stupid one,u no fear ur life?How many stories have we heard of naija policemen killing civilians like no mans palava?
Na the head of ur mama/papa save u o my sister,naija police men are not to be argued with.
what they did to u is not in anyway right under the law n what u did to the policeman too isnt right under the law too,u beat a police man in his uniform?man una get BIG liver o.
God help uyou and help our country Nigeria!
My dear you were wrong on so many levels to tell the truth. Firstly he wasnt trying to get money from you - you then insulted him - and there is no worse insult than to belittle a man's ego i.e. he was begging for N50 I;m not taking his side tho' and then you drew blood first by injuring him on his wrist. We all know what these police men are like and you walked straight into the trap - 2 wrongs never make a right...I can't wait to come to nigeria in xmas..so much drama ...lol
Only in Naija!
Dear "victim" looks like u are more troublesome than our recalled ambassador's wife. Why trade insults and slaps with a police man in uniform? U really are lucky u escaped with slight bruises, it could have been worse.
she's wrong for fighting him but are you saying the police are gods so no one should challenge them?(and i dnt mean slapping or fighting them).i think its high time the police realise what they are really supposed to be doing and this will have to come through attitudinal change and training and also probably improving their welfare...that said, its a disgrace for a citizen esp a woman to fight with a man in uniform...doesnt happen anywhere...makes people lose respect for the police(although i kno in naija the people hav already lost all respect for the police)....sigh..i just wish things will change
Even in the UK you cannot slap a policeman and expect not to be prosecuted. You should have minded your business in the first place. Next time, think, count to 10 (maybe in your case 50) and then act. Even if the policeman is reprimanded for the assault on you, you have also committed a crime by assaulting him.
you guys were both in the wrong. but in reality, a lot of people face police brutality. i agree with the first anonymous of having a website just for Nigerian police where people can upload stories, pictures, and videos of Nigerian police brutality or Nigerian police breaking the law. I will make sure that website is under one of my bookmarks. these people are supposed to be protecting you, yet they would rather exploit, abuse, and torment you.
But you would have a hard time winning the case for the simple fact that you first put your hands on the officer and he could say that he acted in self-defense and what not. your case would be pretty weak, AND you signed the undertaking, so....anyway, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!
now for my story....
I remember my first time in Naija (i was still young then) and we were leaving Port Harcourt airport when within 1.5 miles, we were stopped by some Nigerian policemen. their physical appearance alone was intimidating and they were carrying guns. I immediately became intimidated. being used to the American way, i thought police only drew their weapons if they had to. my entire boy became tense! :(
they told us to pull over and open all of our luggage, they even searched my Mom's bag. then they started asking for 1,000 naira and other stuff saying we looked like we could afford it, so we should help them out because their salary is not enough. like WTF? how is that our issue? my mom, being the drama queen that she is, starts arguing with the police and i start crying and shouting "MOM! they're gonna shoot you, just stop it!" (hahahahaha) my uncles got out of the car behind us and ended up settling the matter. this incident was about 10 minutes long. they were even getting ready to get physical before my uncles intervened. and this was just one incident of the many.... DAMN, I don't even know what kind of breed these people come from. most are heartless, ruthless, and behave like devils.
this is a serious question, but does being a Nigerian police officer not pay enough? don't these people go to police school? are they trained? and most especially, do they have a brain, or even a heart?
Look at all of you 'thugs' behind the computer?!!!! So the Police has a right to collect bribes? has a right to slap anyone?......That is why NIGERIA will forever remain as it is......there is no excuse under the sun for this unrighteous behavior by the police.....POLICE are the keepers of the state....everywhere but Nigeria.....
I pray that this victim is able to get justice. Every citizen deserves respect....if the Police did not slap her she would not retaliate.....because you have a gun does that make you the Lord? so please lets stop giving excuses to all these injustice!!!!
At least you wouldn't be able to leave abusive comments on Linda's post till your thumb heals.
hmm....nobody should talk until they are in the same position.....we all know how our dear country naija is.....remember the apo killings......he who wears the shoe knows how it bites....
Kai...some people on this blog r talking fishes. Wat she did was an act of bravery, though very risky. And d anon that said she's not ashamed, wetin cause that kind language? U need to go and wash ur mouth with harpic cos I bliv there's a reason u're vomittin nonsense. Don't u know Nigerian policemen r no different than garage touts? One day one day, some of u will enter police wahala n nobody will bother trying to help ya...cowards.
OMO,YOU TRY OH..I FEAR POLICE MHEN LIKE MAD..YOU FOR JUT LOCK UP SHA,CUZ IN THE END,NA YOU 9 LOOSE.. THOSE MEN ARE LUNATICS,THE HAVE GUNS AND THEY KILL,SO YOU FOR CHILL.PELE SHA,REST WELL AND GET TREATED..XOXO
OMO,YOU TRY OH..I FEAR POLICE MHEN LIKE MAD..YOU FOR JUT LOCK UP SHA,CUZ IN THE END,NA YOU 9 LOOSE.. THOSE MEN ARE LUNATICS,THE HAVE GUNS AND THEY KILL,SO YOU FOR CHILL.PELE SHA,REST WELL AND GET TREATED..XOXO
All of you blaming her for fighting are fools..(Big fools). This is exactly why Nigeria will continue to remain as it is,(Lawless, disorderly, etc) because of idiots like you. Yes we know she took a very risky step, but we have to take these steps to get Nigeria to its desired state. If everyone keeps minding their bizness and shutting their mouths as you cowards mentioned then i wonder how the country is expected to develop? I hope you get justice and i wish you quick recovery.
Afterall said and done i hate policemen they annoy me just the mere sight of them....when i was younger we used to travel every weekend to benin from PH and we get to benin late although we leave PH early...Reason being that the police would keep us on the road for a longtime since my dad doesnot believe in bribe, he doesnt give them money @ all so they would make sure they keep us on the road for a longtime just to spite us like can u imagine? Also,my hatred for them is borne out from my other encounter with them in PH and Aba
@poster: if i were you i would tell him that i am going late that he should hurry up and if he talks back at me i would ignore him but if he dare to slap me, i would take a photo of him and tell the driver to move on cos he is so going down!! i would also use the driver as my witness.
hmmm.....naija!we have become so oppressed and oblivious of our rights that we now see police intimidation as the norm. we now see challenging a police officer as a crime! we now see nothing wrong in the police oppressing poor drivers and extorting from them.ah!i weep for Nigerians ooo! we have become so chicken that we now insult the few who have enough boldness to stand up to a police man when he misbehaves. yes, the lady made some mistakes but does that justify the policeman's action? why did he stop the taxi in the first place? the police is meant to protect us but they do the opposite. Nigerians, we will wallow in backwardness if we continue to bow to oppression!
AYOMIDE YOU ARE EVEN THE THUG HERE, YOU ARE NOTING BUT A COMPOUND FOOL. SO YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE LADY SLAPPING A POLICE MAN. HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT THIS IS NIGERIA. I DARE YOU THIS ASSHOLE TO SLAP THOSE MOPOL POLICE MEN BETWEEN ORE AND BENIN HIGHWAY AND SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU. TRY AM FIRST NA BECAUSE NA ONLY YOU SABI YOUR RIGHT. MR RIGHT. I DONT SUPPORT ANY OF THEM FOR THIER ACTION BUT THE WOMAN'S MOUTH IS TOO FAST AND SHE GOT WHAT SHE DESERVED AND SHE EVEN SLAPPED BACK BRAGGING SHE STABBED HER HAND. YOU ARE VERY LUCKY LADY. TRY THOSE ONES STANDING BETWEEN ORE AND BENIN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Police brutality is not to be condoned. That is a fact.
Another fact is that you are alive to tell this story because you are a woman/lady. If a man should slap an armed police officer in a deserted place like Choba, accidental discharge don happen be that. Police don catch that suspect they have been hunting for the past 6 months who has also been terrorizing the Choba community.
Next time, try not to be a hero in the middle of nowhere. None of those passengers with you can bear you witness...not even the driver.
I support the crime watch website but it must be hosted anonimously everything anonimous so you don't "wake up dead".
Really some of u have a pathetic attitude. So if it had been a man, then it would have been okaaay for him to prove his dwindling manhood by slapping back yeah? Abeg STFU!!! Thing is my dear u were rather confrontational... Don't get me wrong, I get how angry u can get to have that kind of reaction but sweetie, it'll probably have landed u in a morgue somewhere with ur family weeping their eyes out and let me tell u, none of ur fellow passengers would have squeaked! In this kind of situation, I would recommend a cool head. Some of those so called policemen are drugged-up trigger happy fools who r so frustrated that they would not think twice about wasting someone whose life is worth like a thousand of theirs.... Yup, the truth is painful. But telling me that her reaction should have been different because she's a lady is just plain stupid!!
jUST PRAY THAT YOU DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH THE POLICE. I WAS WRONGFULY ACCUSSED BY THE POLICE OF MAKING A CALL IN THE BANK, MEANWHILE IT WAS OUTSIDE THE BANK FAR FROM THE GATE O...JUST IMAGINE THREE GROWN MEN RUSHING TOWARDS ME TO CEASE MY PHONE AND I REFUSED BECAUSE I KNOW MY RIGHTS. THREE OF THEM CAME TO STRUGGLE WITH ME FOR THE PHONE WHICH I REFUSED. AS A RESULT, I WAS BEATEN...AT THE END, THEY HAD TO BEG BECAUSE MY FATHER IS A 'BIG MAN', WHICH THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WERE HARRASING ME. THE ISSUE IS, THEY WERE PUNISHED BECAUSE I HAVE AN INFLUENTIAL FATHER, WHAT ABOUT THIS LADY WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING TO SUPPORT HER FAMILY? IT IS HIGH TIME PEOPLE STOOD UP TO THE POLICE, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH THEY THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH JUST ANYTHING. HOW CAN HE SLAP SOMEONE HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING? I DOFF MY HAT WELLWELL FOR THE LADY SLAPPING HIM BACK, I THANK GOD THAT HE WAS NOT TRIGGER HAPPY AT THAT POINT. WHY SHOULD THEY EVEN BE TRIGGER HAPPY IN THE FIRST PLACE. HOW CAN YOU BE TALKING TO A CIVILIAN AND YOU HAVE AN INSTINCT TO SHOOT. IN THE POLICE COLLEGES WERE THEY NOT TAUGHT SELF-CONTROL...MSCHEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW.
HABA!!!!!!!!!!
PRESIDENT JONATHAN JUST RECONSTITUTED THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS BOARD , I HOPE IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE, EVERYDAY THE RIGHTS OF NIGERIANS ARE VIOLATED BY THIS MOTHER F****RS WHO CALL THEMSELVES POLICEMEN. HABA, I AM SO ENRAGED AT THIS STORY. AND SOME OF YOU ARE SAYING WHY SHOULD SHE BE CONFRONTATIONAL...THAT IS WHY WE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN LIKE THIS IN NIGERIA BECAUSE WE NEVER CONFRONT...MY DEAR, I WILL PRAY FOR YOUTHIS TO SHALL PASS.
I REMEMBER THE TRAUMA I WENT THROUGH AFTER WHAT THE IDIOTS DID TO ME. IT TOOK A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ME TO RECOVER, WE NEED TO SUPPOT OUR OWN, SHE HAS COME HERE FOR SUCCOUR AND NOT INSULTS.
Great post! Been reading a lot about different assault cases. Thanks for the info here!
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