Nigerian police

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) is one of the most prominent security agencies in the country, tasked with ensuring the security of citizens within the country. If you’ve ever been curious about the Nigerian police ranks and salary structure, this article answers your questions.

A brief history

According to the NPF, its history dates back to 1861, when it was a 30-man security group that operated in Lagos state. The group would be expanded to accommodate about 1200 men in 1879 and renamed the Hausa Constabulary, an armed paramilitary outfit. By 1896, the Lagos Police was established and a similar security outfit, the Niger Coast Constabulary, started operations in Calabar in 1894. Meanwhile, the north had its own security agency, the Royal Niger Company Constabulary which was set up in 1988.

In 1900, the Northern and Southern Nigeria Protectorates were born, and with them came the Northern Nigeria Police and Southern Nigeria Police. Fast forward to 1930, the Northern and Southern forces merged to form the colony’s first national police, the Nigerian Police Force.

Ranks of the Nigerian Police Force

Nigerian police officers are deployed from across the 36 states of the country and the capital to “fight crime, criminality and ensure the maintenance of law and order vis-à-vis peaceful co-existence in the society.”

The NPF has three different structures: Command (authority), administration and organisation. The command is hierarchical, starting with the Inspector-General of Police and ending with the constable.

We outline the Nigerian police ranks and salary below:

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP)

Image: NPF

The head of the entire NPF and the most senior officer, the IGP controls the administration of the NPF. Kayode Egbetokun is the current IGP, after he succeeded Usman Baba in 2023.

Monthly salary according to grade

Inspector-General (1): ₦1.543,960.95

Inspector-General (2): ₦1.701,188.95

Inspector-General (3): ₦1.849,000.29

Inspector-General (4): ₦1.987,396.61

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police

This is the second most-senior office of the NPF, and it usually has multiple officers who can step in for the IGP when the situation arises. The deputy IGPs head the administrative departments of the NPF. Frank Mba, Habu Sani, Usman Nagogo, Daniel Sokari-Pedro, Ede Ekpeji, Ibrahim Ka’oje and Bala Ciroma are the current Deputy Inspectors-General of Police.

Monthly salary according to grade

Deputy inspector-general (1): ₦1,405,277.58

Deputy inspector-general (2): ₦1,558,160.45

Deputy inspector-general (3): ₦1,706,152.46

Deputy inspector-general (4): ₦1,849,057,45

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police

Commonly called the AIG, this rank is subordinate to Deputy IGP. AIGs oversee the zonal operations of the NPF. In October 2023, Kayode Egbetokun decorated 12 AIGs.

Monthly salary according to grade

Assistant Inspector-General (1): ₦867,552.16

Assistant Inspector-General (2): ₦1,018,009.62

Assistant Inspector-General (3): ₦1,168,071.66

Assistant Inspector-General (4): ₦1,318,468.87

The Commissioner of Police

These are officers charged with overseeing the force’s state commands. The CP is appointed by the IGP, subject to approval by the Police Service Commission.

Monthly salary according to grade

Commissioner of police (1): ₦849,977.67

Commissioner of police (2): ₦869,472.56

Commissioner of police (3): ₦887,087.64

Commissioner of police (4): ₦909,435.78

Commissioner of police (5): ₦929,497.93

Commissioner of police (6): ₦960,137.01

The Deputy Commissioner of Police

A DCP oversees an area command. They’re the second-highest ranked officer in the force’s state command and are often in line to succeed the CP.

Monthly salary according to grade

Deputy commissioner of police (1): ₦420,772.22

Deputy commissioner of police (2): ₦432,576.03

Deputy commissioner of police (3): ₦443,576.03

Deputy commissioner of police (4): ₦454,977.94

Deputy commissioner of police (5): ₦466,379.84

Deputy commissioner of police (6): ₦477,781.85

The Asst. Commissioner of Police

These are officers directly below the DCP. They answer to both the DCP and the Commissioner.

Monthly salary according to grade

Asst. commissioner of police (1): ₦382.860.45

Asst. commissioner of police (2): ₦396.258.98

Asst. commissioner of police (3): ₦409,847.23

Asst. commissioner of police (4): ₦423,626.20

Asst. commissioner of police (5): ₦433,396.91

Asst. commissioner of police (6): ₦447,459.47

The Chief Superintendent of Police

Monthly salary according to grade

Chief superintendent of police (1): ₦338,759.83

Chief superintendent of police (2): ₦346,451.39

Chief superintendent of police (3): ₦354,306.95

Chief superintendent of police (4): ₦362,162.38

Chief superintendent of police (5): ₦370,017.94

Chief superintendent of police (6): ₦377,873.50

Chief superintendent of police (7): ₦385,728.92

Chief superintendent of police (8): ₦393,584.48

The Superintendent of Police

Monthly salary according to grade

Superintendent of police (1): ₦276,759.05

Superintendent of police (2): ₦283,103.54

Superintendent of police (3): ₦289,447.89

Superintendent of police (4): ₦295,792.39

Superintendent of police (5): ₦302,136.88

Superintendent of police (6): ₦308,481.37

Superintendent of police (7): ₦314,825.72

Superintendent of police (8): ₦321,170.21

The Deputy Superintendent of Police

The DSP answers to the superintendent and can take up the role in their absence.

Monthly salary according to grade

Deputy superintendent of Police (1): ₦259,706.29

Deputy superintendent of police (2): ₦265,707.25

Deputy superintendent of police (3): ₦271,708.08

Deputy superintendent of police (4): ₦277,708.90

Deputy superintendent of police (5): ₦283,709.86

Deputy superintendent of police (6): ₦289,710.68

Deputy superintendent of police (7): ₦295,711.51

Deputy superintendent of police (8): ₦301,712.33

The Asst. Superintendent of Police

Nigerian police ranks and salary according to grade

Assistant superintendent of police II (1): ₦219,736.63

Assistant superintendent of police II (2): ₦223,254.74

Assistant superintendent of police II (3): ₦226,772.98

Assistant superintendent of police II (4): ₦230,281.23

Assistant superintendent of police II (5): ₦233,809.47

Assistant superintendent of police II (6): ₦237,327.58

Assistant superintendent of police II (7): ₦240,845.82

Assistant superintendent of police II (8): ₦244,344.06

Assistant superintendent of police II (9): ₦247,882.17

Assistant superintendent of police II (10): ₦251,400.42

Assistant superintendent of police I (1): ₦239,210.28

Assistant superintendent of police I (2): ₦243,079.18

Assistant superintendent of police I (3): ₦246,948.09

Assistant superintendent of police I (4): ₦253,312.59

Assistant superintendent of police I (5): ₦259,754.55

Assistant superintendent of police I (6): ₦268,847.01

Assistant superintendent of police I (7): ₦275,482.53

Assistant superintendent of police I (8): ₦282,195.23

Assistant superintendent of police I (9): ₦288,985.51

Assistant superintendent of police I (10): ₦293,125.15

The Inspector of Police

Monthly salary according to grade

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (1): ₦119,693.87

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (2) ₦121,879.47

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (3): ₦124,064.96

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (4): ₦126,250.56

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (5): ₦128,436.16

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (6): ₦130,621.65

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (7): ₦133,747.12

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (8): ₦136,872.59

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (9): ₦139,997.95

Inspector II/Cadet inspector (10): ₦143,123.42

Sergeant Major

The highest-ranked non-commissioned officer of the NPF, and the highest junior officer of the force. A sergeant major offers assistance to administrative officers in regiments.

Monthly salary according to grade

Sergeant major (1): ₦96,216.19

Sergeant major (2): ₦99,233.25

Sergeant major (3): ₦102,250.32

Sergeant major (4): ₦105,267.53

Sergeant major (5): ₦108,284.59

Sergeant major (6): ₦111,301.66

Sergeant major (7): ₦114,318.86

Sergeant major (8): ₦117,335.93

Sergeant major (9): ₦120,353.00

Sergeant major (10): ₦123,370.20

Sergeant

A sergeant is a middle-ranked non-commissioned officer under the sergeant major.

Monthly salary according to grade

Police sergeant (1): ₦77,974.65

Police sergeant (2): ₦79,336.16

Police sergeant (3): ₦80,617.34

Police sergeant (4): ₦82,128.16

Police sergeant (5): ₦85,639.11

Police sergeant (6): ₦88,150.07

Police sergeant (7): ₦90,660.89

Police sergeant (8): ₦93,171.84

Police sergeant (9): ₦95,682.80

Police sergeant (10): ₦98,193.61

Corporal

This officer is responsible for the supervision and training of police officers. The corporal assumes the position of the sergeant when on the streets or in the absence of one.

Monthly salary according to grade

Police Corporal (1): ₦71,809.19

Police Corporal (2): ₦72,951.64

Police Corporal (3): ₦74,093.95

Police Corporal (4): ₦75,236.27

Police Corporal (5): ₦76,378.72

Police Corporal (6): ₦77,521.04

Police Corporal (7): ₦78,663.35

Police Corporal (8): ₦79,805.80

Police Corporal (9): ₦81,002.13

Police Corporal (10): ₦82,144.58

Constable

This is the lowest-ranked officer in the NPF, which includes newly employed graduates of the Nigeria Police Academy.

Monthly salary according to grade

Police constable II (1): ₦68,262.29

Police constable II (2): ₦69,035.85

Police constable II (3): ₦69,809.41

Police constable II (4): ₦70,582.97

Police constable II (5): ₦71,356.54

Police constable II (6): ₦72,130.10

Police constable II (7): ₦72,903.66

Police constable II (8): ₦73,677.22

Police constable II (9): ₦74,450.78

Police constable II (10): ₦75,224.48

Police constable I (1): ₦69,524.55

Police constable I (2): ₦70,475.23

Police constable I (3): ₦71,426.04

Police constable I (4): ₦72,376.85

Police constable I (5): ₦73,327.66

Police constable I (6): ₦74,278.47

Police constable I (7): ₦75,229.28

Police constable I (8): ₦76,180.09

Police constable I (9): ₦77,130.90

Police constable I (10): ₦78,081.71

Salary structure

During the heat of the protest against police brutality in October 2020, former president, Muhammadu Buhari, approved an increase in the salary paid to police officers.

In 2021, the then police affairs minister, Maigari Dingyadi, said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a further 20% increase from January 2022.

A document titled “New Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS) with 20% chart (Effective January 2022)”, obtained by DUBAWA, outlines the current Nigerian police ranks and salary paid to officers of the law in the country. Officers are paid according to their ranks and grades.

Adeyinka Odutuyo

December 19, 2023

Citizen

Funny, Nigerian police, Nigerians, Police
Around 8 p.m. on October 20, 2023, X users saw posts that followed the pattern of dissatisfied customers calling out an erring vendor. This time, it was Adeola Akinmola (@ade_authority) calling out Wunmi Odunmorayo, the CEO of Naija Hair Factory, for allegedly insulting her after a business transaction went wrong.

Naijahairfactory girl called me now calling me a “stupid fvcking fat bitch with hugly face and husband”

All I did was patronize this girl pic.twitter.com/dzmk96BoKE
— Techpreneur 👩‍💻💵 (@Ade_authority) October 20, 2023

However, by the evening of October 25, 2023, things had taken a different turn. X users found out that Akinmola had been detained by the police following a report by Odunmorayo. Several posts were made asking for Akinmola’s release.

What happened?

On Thursday, October 12, 2023, Akinmola direct messaged Naija Hair Factory’s Instagram page to enquire about their wig revamping services.

“I sent an Instagram DM explaining that I wanted to revamp three wigs, with all the details they needed to know for each hair, “Akinmola explains. “I also asked about the price and duration of the process, but instead, they [presumably someone from customer service] collected my address to come pick up the hair and requested that the conversation be moved to WhatsApp. They didn’t reach out to me on WhatsApp.”

Akinmola confirms that the wigs were picked up the next day [on Friday], but there was no confirmation from them till she sent them an Instagram message on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, to complain that no one had reached out to her on WhatsApp.

“They sent a WhatsApp message hours later asking me to confirm the hair they received. At this point, I was furious. If they were just asking me to confirm something that had been sent since Friday last week, it meant the hair hadn’t been revamped yet. On top of that, the pictures they sent for confirmation had my hair looking like something from a dumpster. These were wigs that were still fairly new”.

Akinmola went on to ask when she’d get the wigs revamped, and was told she’d receive them by Wednesday, October 25, 2023. “This meant the wigs would’ve been with them for three weeks, and I couldn’t wait. So instead, I said I’d send my dispatch rider down to pick up the wigs and pay for the pickup they did, which was ₦3k. On hearing that, they tried to reach a compromise. I explained that I needed the hair by Friday afternoon at the latest, as I had an event on Saturday. They said they’d be able to meet up.”

But Friday [October 20] came, and the story changed. Delivery was moved to the next day.

“At that point, I just asked to send my rider instead. They agreed, and I informed them when I sent the rider around 4 p.m., but they were no longer responsive. They then responded on Instagram at 5 p.m. that they’d closed for the day and I should check back tomorrow. The rider I sent eventually cancelled the trip and left.

I lashed out, and soon after, they reached out on Instagram, asking me to send another rider because they’d dropped my hair with security. They sent me account details to pay the ₦18k bill — ₦3k each for pickup and delivery, and ₦12k for the service. I paid ₦15k because I was paying for delivery myself. Immediately after I sent evidence of payment, I was blocked on Instagram and couldn’t view the account anymore.”

Akinmola went on WhatsApp to complain that she hadn’t received her hair before being blocked, but there was no response. Frustrated, she then went on X and posted, “Naija Hair Factory just blocked me even before delivering my hair”. But she deleted the post almost immediately.

“I didn’t want to get involved in drama. I eventually arranged for another rider to pick it up, but because it was quite late, I didn’t get the hair that day.”

The confrontation with Wunmi Odunmorayo

A few hours after the deleted post, Akinmola received a call from someone who turned out to be Wunmi Odunmorayo, the CEO of Naija Hair Factory.

“She introduced herself and promptly started calling me names like “idiot”, “bitch” and “shameless”. She also called my husband names. The call was unexpected, so I couldn’t immediately record the call. My husband was with me, and I told him to record, but she ended the call. She then proceeded to send me messages and make calls to me via WhatsApp. I recorded it all. I even asked why she’d bring my family into this.”

It was at that point that Akinmola posted about her ordeal on X. What followed was a text message from Odunmorayo who later picked up negative feedback on Akinmola’s business (@corporateewa) from X to defend herself on Instagram story.

When did the police get involved?

On Saturday, October 21, Akinmola received a call from one Mr Jide at State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, who informed her that Wunmi Odunmorayo had filed a petition against her.

“I immediately informed my lawyer and asked the policeman to continue the conversation with him. All this while, I was still receiving random calls from Odunmorayo. On Monday, she called me to take down the thread I made of the ordeal on X. I said I’d do it on the condition that she apologised to me. She refused and said, “You will see.” The call is recorded.”

By 4 p.m. on that Monday, four police officers visited Akinmola’s Surulere office and asked to see her. She wasn’t around, so they dropped a message inviting her to a Bariga station the next morning.

“I expected the questioning to happen in Surulere, where I was based, so I informed my lawyer. We went to the Surulere station to make a report on Tuesday and told the Bariga policemen we’d show up on Wednesday. I even had an accident that Tuesday evening, which required me to fix my car on Wednesday morning. But I arrived at the Bariga station with my husband and lawyer for what was supposed to be a simple dialogue.”

What happened at the police station, as recounted by Akinmola and her husband

We waited for Odunmorayo to show up at the station for over an hour. She finally arrived with a man. They were holding hands and seemed close, even exchanging quiet remarks.

Two other policemen (Nosa and Kenny) joined us, and we all sat under a tree in the compound. We were soon made to understand that the man who came in with Odunmorayo was the S.O (station officer).

She told her side of the story, twisting it completely. The S.O kept taking random calls with friends in between my turn to speak. When I was done, he simply told Nosa to take us to write statements. Then he left the station.

Odunmorayo wrote hers first, and they didn’t read it. But when I wrote mine, Kenny read it out and went through my phone to look at the tweets. They also told me to write in the statement that I posted her personal number, but I refused because the number was introduced to me as a business line. He said I didn’t have a case, so I mentioned I had recordings on my husband’s phone to prove she had been threatening me via calls and messages. The phone’s battery was dead at the time, so Kenny took the phone to charge, but when he returned it, he didn’t bother to check the recordings.

Instead, he asked Odunmorayo to show him the threats she had been receiving on her phone. He supposedly checked it but never showed me anything. I never sent any threat.

At that point, I noticed Odunmorayo call her parents to call the DPO (Divisional Police Officer). In a matter of minutes, the DPO called the police officers and asked them to charge me with cyberstalking, cyberbullying and intent to cause problems. I was detained immediately.

The DPO wasn’t even there, he hadn’t examined the statements, my recordings or done any investigations. Odunmorayo was right there when they announced that I’d be detained. My lawyer tried to disagree, but they threatened to send him out. My earrings, slippers and other personal effects were removed. I even told them I was on my period, but I got no audience. Odunmorayo left soon after.

The lawyer and my husband tried to seek bail, but they claimed the DPO wasn’t around. The officers refused to drop the DPO’s number, and it also wasn’t written down anywhere in the station.

We eventually got the number via X, but the DPO didn’t pick up. We had to wait till around 10 p.m. when the DPO finally showed up. Apparently, the S.O was the DPO.

I was taken into his office, and he said in Yoruba, “You these influencers think you can get away with everybody.” At that point, I hadn’t changed my tampon or eaten anything. I was tired. I asked if I could sit on one of the chairs in his office as I was on my period, and he said, “Does this place look like a period place?”

Nosa and Kenny were there too, so I tried to explain to the DPO that my evidence wasn’t examined and I wasn’t given a fair hearing. Those officers lied through their noses and said they checked everything.

I was taken back to detention while my husband continued seeking bail. He wasn’t allowed to stand in as surety because they said they wanted someone from Bariga, so we had to call a friend. My husband tried to see the DPO again to address the situation, but he was told he wasn’t available, even though he could see him watching TV through the window at the back.

Around 11 p.m., the DPO walked out and drove off even though they knew someone was coming to process the bail. The friend came and placed a call to the DPO. The DPO directed him to Nosa (who was the Investigating Police Officer – IPO) to help, but Nosa said, “Why are you coming at this time? Who will process bail at this time?” We tried to call the DPO again several times, but he didn’t pick up.

We were delayed till around 9 a.m. on Thursday before the bail was processed, and I was released. We were told to return on Monday, October 30, at 10 a.m.

What next?

“We aren’t sure what the next step is now, but we’ll continue to do everything legally,” Akinmola says.

Odunmorayo released a statement on Instagram on Thursday, October 26, insisting that her personal number was posted and the police report was due to being “deeply troubled by the harassment and threats”. She also stated that by the time she left the station, Akinmola wasn’t detained.

This is a developing story.

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Tife Oni

October 27, 2023

Inside Life

adeola akinmola, Naija hair factory, Nigerian police, Nigerians, Police arrest
It’s not a nice feeling to be caught in a web of dangerous or life-threatening situations. It’s even worse for it to happen in our dear country, Nigeria, where systems are often crippled to the point of slow response or all-out inactivity. Always self-prioritise and take the necessary safety measures in case of emergencies.

We’ve compiled some vital steps to take when it feels like you are in harm’s way.

Police is your friend

An important first step to take when involved in life-threatening situations is to visit and make an official report to the nearest police station in your neighbourhood. Never take matters into your own hands, especially if such problems escalate to involve violence.

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has a dedicated website with the official mobile numbers of each state’s PROs and another page with emergency numbers for every state. In cases where you’ve been a victim of cybercrime, they have an official website where you can file a complaint or report suspected individuals.

Use national and state emergency lines

Many Nigerians understandably have trust issues when it comes to the functionality and responsiveness of systems that have been put in place by the government. The emergency services are one such systems, but it’s not a good bet to rule them out completely.

Nigeria’s toll-free emergency number is 112. It’s an umbrella code that caters to all emergencies from fire outbreaks to road accidents or flood and even personal safety. It’s also important to get familiar with the emergency services in your state of residence. For instance, Lagos State has contact numbers for designated agencies.

Amplify your cry for help on social media

Source: SearchEngineJournal

Some social media platforms have proven to be effective in helping people get out of life-threatening situations or get the help they need. For instance, X (formerly Twitter) has become a go-to for people to get the public, and sometimes, local authorities’ attention.

Police officers like Benjamin Hundeyin and Olumuyiwa Adejobi have gained popularity for taking up requests or offering guidance to citizens on X. The NPF also has an official account on the platform, dedicated to receiving complaints about erring police officers.

In addition, several cases ranging from missing persons, fraud or abuse have been solved because they were shared on X. It’s important to follow relevant security-related accounts and reach out whenever you find yourself in life-threatening situations.

Inform trusted contacts

It’s important to let everyone around you know what is going on as silence will only embolden perpetrators of abuse, intimidation or harassment. Inform your family members and friends about what is going on.

In urgent situations where you can’t get to family and friends quickly, inform your neighbours.

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Use technology to your advantage

Apple recently released an iOS 17 feature called Check-In. The feature detects when you’ve arrived at your destination and automatically informs family and friends. Every 15 minutes during your trip, the feature also asks if you’ve gotten to your destination. If you don’t respond, it’d automatically share useful information with loved ones. It’s important to get familiar with security features on your mobile devices and set them up ahead of time.

Another useful hack is to take photos, audio and video recordings when you find yourself in distressing situations. The evidence gathered can help the police or other security agencies carry out a smooth investigation and absolve you in case of false accusations.

READ ALSO: Where’s the Nigerian Police When You Need Them?

Know your legal rights

Many Nigerians land in avoidable situations because they don’t know their rights. It’s important to get familiar with your fundamental human rights as a Nigerian citizen to avoid being a pawn in the hands of corrupt police officers, landlords or people who want to ride on your ignorance.

Seek legal advice or involve your lawyers in legal issues. Organisations like Hope Behind Bars Africa, Human Rights Law Service, among others, provide free legal aid.

Self-defense

This should always be the last resort. You might sustain serious injuries, get implicated and even land in jail while trying to defend yourself.

However, just as Yoruba people are commonly assumed to make empty threats, doing so could save you from potentially threatening situations and get you flagged as not-so-easy targets. Still, It’s important to always gauge the situation properly before taking the bet on self-defence.

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Adeyinka Odutuyo

September 25, 2023

Inside Life

Nigerian police, Nigerians, Police
Ada is determined to see justice served for the disappearance of her brother, Chijioke Iloanya. Chijioke’s case was part of what fueled the 2020 #EndSARS protest after he went missing in 2012. The notorious Awkuzu SARS in Anambra, where Chijoke lived with his family, is said to be responsible, and there’s a face and name for who to hold accountable. Now, Ada is staging a solo protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding justice for her brother and other victims of police brutality.

The Nigeria Police Force’s vision is “To make Nigeria safer and more secure…to create a safe and secure environment for everyone living in Nigeria.”

However, this vision has been nothing short of a nightmare for Ada and her family, who have been searching for elusive justice for the past 11 years. Ada narrated to Citizen everything that has led her up to this moment.

Walk us through why you’re staging this protest

My brother, Chijioke, was arrested by the Nigerian police on November 29, 2012. Then he was transferred to Awkuzu Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Anambra state before my mum could bail him out.

When my parents tried to bail him out at Awkuzu SARS, they denied having him at first. My parents were about to leave the station when they saw my brother being led in, and my mum raised the alarm that he was the one they came to bail out. My parents were thrown out, and it would take several days before they were allowed into the station.

When they eventually got access, they met James Nwafor, the officer in charge of the SARS unit. When my mum asked for my brother, he told her that if it was those boys (including my brother) she was looking for, he’d already killed them and that there was nothing she could do about it.

My mum slumped when she heard it and was taken to the hospital. This started this journey for us, and we’ve been trying to get justice in different ways. In 2019, I wrote about it on Twitter. In 2020, I called out James Nwafor because I saw his handle on Twitter.

I’ve written petitions to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). I’ve also written petitions to different Inspector Generals of the Police.

We went to the #EndSARS panel in 2020. The Anambra state government hasn’t made the panel’s recommendations and findings public. No whitepaper has been released either. Nothing has happened. James Nwafor is still a free man while we’re still in the pain of losing our brother and son. Other families have lost someone to James Nwafor, and others have been victims of police brutality.

Download the Citizen Election Report: Navigating Nigeria’s Political Journey

It’s tough what you and your family have had to go through

I started this protest on July 3. It will go on for ten days, ending on July 13. The reason it’s happening now is because it’s going to three years since we wrote a petition and went to a panel for #EndSARS to demand justice over the death of my brother, Chijioke.

The panel made findings and recommendations, but we’ve not gotten that yet, up till now. I’m also doing this because I’m getting tired. I have a life outside of this. My life revolves around Chijioke, and I would like justice for him. It draws me back whenever someone sees me and asks if something has been done about my brother’s case. I have no good answer to that, and that has to change.

July is also Chijioke’s birth month, which makes this symbolic. His birthday is July 13, which I’ve chosen as the day to end the protest. Because I’ve fought for justice for my brother, other people who have been victims of police brutality have reached out to me as a point of contact. They tell me about family members they’ve lost, and I feel so bad I can do nothing for them. The least I can do is use my voice to speak on their behalf. So while I’m advocating for Chijioke, I’m also trying to get justice for them because we deserve it.

How’s it been so far?

I’ve been pushing, although it’s been getting harder and harder. Yesterday’s protest was harder than Monday’s because the sun was scorching hot, and I had to stand for long hours without a place to sit. When I get tired, I sit at the barricades, which still places me under the sun’s searing heat.

It rained in the morning today so I couldn’t start early. But I’m here now, protesting. I’ve noticed that people have been asking me to go to Ahmed Isah (Ordinary Ahmed of Brekete Family). But when I first tweeted about it, some people like Segalink tried to help, but nothing happened. So I’m conflicted. Do I reach out to him? Would it change anything or not? Also, it’s not just about me. What about other families? It’s a little convenient for me because I’m based in Abuja but what about them? Do they spend their money to come to Abuja to meet Ahmed when it’s easier to arrest James Nwafor immediately?

What would you like to see happen?

Start the investigation and prosecution of James Nwafor immediately. Let each state release its #EndSARS panel reports, whitepapers and recommendations to the public. It makes no sense for ordinary citizens to seek justice through one man who is probably overwhelmed with so much. Why should I rely on a regular Nigerian to help me when we have institutions that aren’t doing their jobs? It’s unfair. I’ve been here since having people look at me with pity, and I don’t want that. I just want justice.

Stephen Agwaibor

July 5, 2023

Citizen

#EndSars, abuja, Chijioke Iloanya, justice, Nigerian police, protest
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, a nationwide therapy session should be held for Nigerians because we’ve sadly become desensitised to many issues. Mass kidnappings now barely make news headlines; no one cares that a politician on murder charges won an election, and police officers and government officials brutalising security agents is simply another day at the office.

On Monday, April 17, 2023, the security agents and residents of Omole Estate Phase 2 saw the kind of crazy they weren’t prepared for. According to the estate’s laws, visitors in private or unbranded vehicles aren’t allowed in without producing a proper means of identification.

However, when officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) who pulled up in a private vehicle were asked to identify themselves, they ignored the security guards and tried to force their way through. Annoyed at being stopped, one official stepped down from the vehicle and assaulted the guards. And before they could even grasp what was happening, touts came from nowhere. They started beating up the estate’s security agents.

At this point, there was panic and chaos everywhere. When armed police officers finally arrived at the scene in a coaster bus and Hilux van, you’d think they’d try to defuse the situation or at least protect the security guards from being harassed, but we all know the Nigerian police is built different. They instead threatened to shoot the guards and tried to force one of them into the coaster bus.

The police and the touts eventually took over the estate and prevented people from going in or out of it.

You’d expect that this behaviour would be condemned by the government or the Police Force, but nothing has been said so far because human rights abuse in Nigeria is now, unfortunately, the norm. But, one lesson that can be learnt from this is if you’re ever in trouble, you have more chances of being saved by your village people than you do with the Nigerian police.

What Else Happened this Week?

Woman Sells Her Baby to Offset Bank Loan

Debt is a trap that many Nigerians are falling into with the number of microfinance banks and loan apps available now. People do many crazy things to escape the shame and embarrassment of defaulting on a payment, but things are getting out of hand.

On April 17, 2023, a complaint was lodged at the Ogun State Police Command by Nureni Rasaq, who reported that his wife left home with their 18-month-old baby to Lagos on March 15, 2023, but she returned without the baby.

The woman was arrested, and on interrogation, she confessed that she went to Lagos to raise enough money to pay her debt to a microfinance bank. While hawking on a certain day, she met a man who offered to buy her baby for the sum of ₦600,000 and she agreed.

Investigations to recover the baby are underway, and the woman will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further questioning.

Video of the Week

Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP are in court to drag APC's Bola Tinubu's victory at the 2023 polls.

As the litigation process is starting, we asked Everyday Citizens if they believe the Supreme Court will remain impartial through the process. pic.twitter.com/B8q4JioIA0
— Citizen by Zikoko (@ZikokoCitizen) April 17, 2023

Question of the week

Traditional worshippers are demanding that the federal government declares August 20 as a public holiday for them. Do you think the federal government will agree to this?

Ehen one more thing…

Have you ever heard of the Ekumeku War? It’s a story of how Igbo vigilantes resisted Britain for 31 years. Learn more about this Nigerian history here.

Tolu Omotesho

April 24, 2023

Game of Votes

bank loans, Ekumeku, Nigerian police, Omole estate
Sports enthusiasts may be familiar with the term “flat-track bully.” It originally comes from cricket but has crept into regular usage. It’s a term that describes a sportsperson who dominates inferior opposition but cannot beat opponents of similar or higher standing. Football fans can relate to this very well, like when they call Cristiano Ronaldo “Penaldo” after he’s scored a couple of penalties against a small team but fails to turn up against a more formidable team. Or Lionel Messi being called “Pessi” for the same reason.

With this background, we’d like to introduce you to the latest flat-track bullies in town, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

On March 7, 2023, the Nigerian police, via its official Twitter handle, put up a tweet condemning the use of dogs at polling units, citing the Dogs Act. The police described dogs as “offensive weapons.”

The “ratio” they got from that tweet tells you all you need to know. The police, being the flat-track bullies that they are, flexed their muscles over dogs while ignoring — forgive the irony — the elephant in the room (or their logo, whatever).

In any case, law experts have refuted the police as having misinterpreted the law.

Finally, the proper law that regulates the control of dogs in the public space in Lagos is the Animals Law of Lagos State, 2022.
Sections 14, 16, and 17 of the law merely demand that dogs owners must leash, harness or muzzle their dogs when they are in public spaces
— Great Oracle Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary (@AbdulMahmud01) March 7, 2023

More importantly, however, this speaks to a Nigerian systemic disease, namely, the unusual focus on symptoms than the root causes. A brighter line of inquiry from the police should be, why do citizens prefer to carry dogs to their polling units?

Warning signs

Before the February 25 elections, there were signs that election manipulation would be rife. YIAGA Africa released a report showing states with a high risk of election manipulation based on six indicators. Lagos state alone presented a very high-risk level with five of these six indicators. They include INEC capture, tampering with the voter register, voter suppression, resistance to election technology and a history of election fraud. To varying degrees, these things played out.

We’ve called out INEC for the shambolic way it handled the elections, but it would be completely unfair to lay all blame at their feet. INEC, for example, can’t provide security detail to protect ballots. This is the work of the police, and it’s to their shame that they also performed poorly.

The Financial Times of London reported seeing, with their own eyes, party goons invading PUs and armed men removing a presidential ballot box in Surulere. In Oshodi and Elegushi, election materials were destroyed by thugs in open view. All these happened despite the police assuring Nigerians that they had “state of the art” equipment to suppress unrest anywhere.

In the face of these visible threats, the police and their “state-of-the-art equipment” abandoned their civic responsibility and pulled off a disappearing act that David Copperfield would be proud of. That’s a hallmark behaviour of a flat-track bully.

Will history repeat itself?

In the leadup to the March 18 governorship elections, we’ve seen reports of voter suppression and intimidation online and offline. Musiliu Akinsanya, the acclaimed ‘thug’ and Chair of the Lagos State Parks Management Committee, also known as MC Oluomo, has threatened Igbo voters, asking them to stay home if they don’t want to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Dog-whistling, ethnic baiting and outright offensive campaign adverts have become the order of the day.

Curiously, the police spokespersons have been quiet on the matter.

Good luck and welcome to everyone on Twitter who's newly discovering who Ben Hundeyin is — someone who pontificates about a better Nigeria on Twitter only to turn a blind eye when supplied hard evidence about corrupt and brutal policemen.
— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) March 16, 2023

I see the police hasn't said anything about MC Oluomo even though they were very quick to falsely and illegaly ask people to not bring their dogs to polling units.
— Sandra Ezekwesili (@SEzekwesili) March 17, 2023

Based on these, is it out of reach to expect citizens to defend themselves with dogs when the people entrusted with that responsibility have gone quiet? As Stears recently noted, Nigeria has, over the years, adopted a Bring Your Own Infrastructure (BYOI) model, which includes election results, electricity and, with the latest developments, security.

A call to action

It’s high time the Nigeria Police Force took some responsibility. Its slogan reads, “change begins with me.” The Nigerian police must be the change it wants for the better. One way to redeem its battered image is to ensure that troublesome elements who want to foment trouble on election day are clamped down on.

No more flat-track bullying, arresting and intimidating innocent protesters as we saw during #EndSARS and empty press releases that do nothing. The Nigerian police need to show workings, and it needs to do so immediately.

We’ll be bringing you special coverage of the governorship elections as they happen across the country. To get live updates, join us on our WhatsApp by clicking the image below:

Stephen Agwaibor

March 17, 2023

Citizen

Nigerian police
I would describe the presidential elections of February 25, 2023, as an experience. While some supporters of opposition parties are still waiting for INEC to say they somehow declared the wrong winner, other people have started preparing for the March 18 gubernatorial elections like they’re marching into war.

These people wouldn’t be entirely wrong, as many were victims of voter disenfranchisement and electoral violence in the last elections. So, to ensure that this doesn’t repeat itself on March 18, some Nigerians have decided to tap into their creative side by wanting to bring dogs and other pets to the polling units to scare thugs who might want to disrupt the elections.

Polling units around Nigeria were going to be filled with the scariest and toughest lineup of pets in the country, but unfortunately, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has once again decided to rain on our parade.

On March 7, 2023, the NPF released a statement saying Section 126(1) of the Electoral Act classifies dogs as offensive weapons that can be used to cause harassment and intimidation by their owners. Therefore, pets are banned from polling units, and the police discourage people from violating this law.

So, maybe we should start looking for other ways to defend our votes and leave the animals out of it because the last kind of trouble anyone wants is one from the Nigerian police.

What Else Happened This Week?

Light at the end of the tunnel of Naira scarcity

If there’s one thing the Nigerian government’s good at, it’s making unnecessary policies that only serve to make our lives harder. In November 2022, President Bubu launched the newly designed naira banknotes, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced that it’d become the official tender from February 10, 2023.

Since the redesign, we’ve entered a rat race trying to get our hands on the new naira, which has proved harder than finding good roads in Ogun state.

However, after weeks of suffering, POS extortion, bank queues, and court cases, the Supreme Court finally came to our rescue on March 3, 2023, when they announced that the old banknotes should remain Nigeria’s legal tender until December 31, 2023.

Some commercial banks have already started paying customers old banknotes over the counter. And although some traders still refuse to accept them as payments, the CBN’s acting Director of Corporate Communications, Dr Isa Abdulmumin, has come out to reassure Nigerians that they can now receive the old banknotes as a form of payment.

Video of the week

For Episode 8 of our series ‘Everybody People’, we went on the streets to ask Nigerians what our next president should focus on.#Zitizensdecide #everydaypeople pic.twitter.com/syOW2SmqeA
— Citizen by Zikoko (@ZikokoCitizen) March 7, 2023

Question of the week

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has choked us this week on social media with his achievements while in office. Can this help tip the elections in his favour in the gubernatorial elections?

Ehen one more thing…

We know the gubernatorial elections will be held on March 18, 2023. But do you know how many governors are vying for a second term? Check them here.

Tolu Omotesho

March 15, 2023

Game of Votes

elections, Naira scarcity, Nigerian police, pets, polling units
On August 30th, 2022, two men and two women appeared at the Magistrate Court in Ogba, Lagos State. Moments later, the magistrate remanded all four of them at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional facility until the next hearing on October 10th, 2022.

The four had walked their way into troubled waters through a physical encounter with police officers during a car stop. It’s still unclear what provoked the altercation, but both men were caught on camera in a shoving match with the officers. The encounter led to this viral video posted online on August 27th, 2022:

No conclusions drawn yet. Both sides have video recordings, which will all be reviewed. All occupants of the car are currently at the station. They are: Ehis Tito Odigie ‘m’ aged 33, self acclaimed music producer; Oyedeji Motunrayo ‘f’ aged 26, corps member; Miracle 1/2 pic.twitter.com/FO3ZTfaV7z
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) August 27, 2022

Just a day before the video, another one that also involved a civilian and police officer made its way online on August 26th. In the video, a motorist accused of driving against one-way traffic dragged an armed police officer by his pants and resisted arrest.

The suspect, Billy King Tokunbo, who drove against traffic, was immediately arrested. His Toyota Corolla car with registration number LSR 430 FT was equally impounded immediately. He is to be arraigned for his traffic offence and assault on a police officer. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/2mcq7uyBxK
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) August 26, 2022

And today, September 2nd, 2022, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Ben Hundeyin, announced the arrest of Nigerian rapper, Ice Prince Zamani. He accused the celebrity of abducting and assaulting a police officer during a midnight car stop.

At 3am today, @Iceprincezamani was stopped for driving without license plates. He agreed to be taken to the station. He, thereafter, abducted the police officer in his car, assaulted him and threatened to throw him in the river. He has been arrested and would be arraigned today. pic.twitter.com/jLazuYOUal
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) September 2, 2022

RELATED: You Only Need Three Things at Nigerian Police Checkpoints

Police vs Nigerians

The three incidents that took place within days of one another are a reflection of the long-standing hostility between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian public. This troubled relationship came to a head with the #EndSARS protests of 2020, and its painful conclusion has done nothing to ease it.

Despite claims of reforms, the atrocities like police brutality and extortion that sparked the historic #EndSARS protests remain. You can draw a line from this aggression to cases of civilians fighting fire with fists.

But the NPF is failing to be reflective enough about the situation.

A disturbing trend

On August 29th, 2022, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, “strongly condemned” the trend of assaults on his police officers across Nigeria. He stressed that such attacks are “illegal and an affront on the rule of law.”

Who knew?

The IGP ordered that anyone caught assaulting officers in the line of duty should face a swift trial to serve as a lesson to others. He said the trend of attacks must not be allowed to grow as it shows a disrespect for the fundamental rights of officers.

IGP’s notable omission

Something that stuck out in the IGP’s statement was the lack of a copious amount of self-reflection. Sure, physically attacking police officers isn’t a trend you want to spread because of its security implications, but the IGP failed to address a significant component of what may be causing it — the officers themselves.

In fact, in his statement, Baba said “preceding factors” shouldn’t matter when civilians attack police officers. But to say this is to ignore the messy relationship between the police force and the public and the part officers play in causing hostilities by intimidating and extorting Nigerians.

The IGP’s statement was a missed opportunity to remind his officers that they too have a responsibility to respect the rights of Nigerians. That’s the kind of olive branch that’d mend fences and foster a healthy relationship between the police and law-abiding citizens.

Maybe that’s something police officers will learn when the Force finally launches its public relations school. Only subscribers of our Game of Votes newsletter would understand what we mean by that. And to also always be cool enough to have all the tea you need when it comes to Nigerian politics and governance, and how they affect citizens, you should subscribe now.

ALSO READ: What Happens When Nigerian Police Officers Clash With Soldiers?

Samson Toromade

September 2, 2022

Citizen

Nigerian police, Nigerians
Nigeria has a diverse range of security agencies that perform very different roles. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) handles domestic issues, the Nigerian Army maintains Nigeria’s territorial integrity and the Amotekun is into animal prints or something.

Too much skin

Despite their operational differences, they all have the same goal to ensure the safety of Nigeria and Nigerians. But another thing most Nigerian security agencies have in common is a reputation for human rights abuse and gross misconduct.

And while much of this brutal streak is directed against civilians, there are occasional incidents of officers of these agencies turning on each other. One of such occasions reared its ugly head again on April 3rd, 2022, in Lagos traffic of all places.

This story doesn’t end well for at least one person.

What happened?

A group of soldiers were stuck in traffic just like it happens to everyone in Lagos. When they investigated what was holding them up, they realised a group of police officers were holding up their lane to pass vehicles in another lane. And because they’re soldiers, they thought they needed to address the slight, so they confronted the police officers. Expectedly, a shouting match started between the two groups.

This is the point where the story of what went down deviates into more than one version, depending on who you ask.

The army’s version of events

During the quarrel, a police officer fired his weapon.

The bullet brushed the ear of one of the soldiers and caused enough damage to send him to the hospital. His mates didn’t like this, so they descended on the shooter and beat him to death.

His name was Inspector Monday Orukpe, and he’s survived by a wife and four children.

The police version

The soldiers, numbering about 30, attacked the five police officers on traffic duty for holding up their lane.

The soldiers beat up the team leader and kidnapped two inspectors and their AK-47 rifles. And when they tried to snatch another inspector, he fired into the air, forcing the soldiers to retreat.

The retreating soldiers turned their attention to torturing the kidnapped inspectors. Inspector Orukpe didn’t survive the injuries the soldiers inflicted on him and died. The second inspector, Igbafe Ojo, is currently being treated for his injuries.

The Lagos State Police Command has called out the Army’s claim of an injured soldier as a lie and demanded the return of the two AK-47 rifles and three magazines the soldiers stole.

So this is the state of affairs right now:

There’s a history of bad blood

The clash between soldiers and police officers in Lagos continues a string of bad blood incidents between officers of both security agencies in Nigeria.

For example, when a team of policemen arrested a wanted kidnapper, Bala “Wadume” Hamisu, in Taraba in 2019, a team of soldiers attacked them. The soldiers killed three policemen and two civilians and liberated the suspect.

The government indicted 10 soldiers involved in the attack but withdrew charges against them to allow the Army to court-martial them first. Their dismissal from the Army remains a waiting game three years later, despite protests from the police.

What will happen to the Lagos case?

The Army has already set up a board of inquiry to investigate the incident, promising to punish anyone found guilty of misconduct. But if the history of how these things play out is anything to go by, the police will be lucky to get justice for its brutalised officers.

The clash illustrates why security agencies have to consider serious reforms for the conduct of their officers, both with one another and with civilians.

In a tribute to Inspector Orukpe, the Police Command’s spokesperson, Ben Hundeyin, said, “You absolutely didn’t have to die.”

And that is as true for the officer as it is for every victim of police brutality in Nigeria.

ALSO READ: What Every Nigerian Should Know About the Supreme Court

Subscribe for Zikoko Citizen’s weekly newsletter to get all the tea on Nigeria!

Samson Toromade

August 11, 2022

Citizen

human rights, nigerian army, Nigerian police
Today, a report was released of a female police officer named Olajide Omolola, who got sacked for getting pregnant while being unmarried. This started after the Department of Finance and Administration in Ado Ekiti sent a signal to where Omolola was based, informing the authorities in charge to stop the payment of her salary and to have her relieved of her duties.

The full document reads, “Section 127 of the Police Act and Regulation against women police getting pregnant before marriage W/PC (woman corporal) Olajide Omolola passed out of Police Training School on 24/04/2020 attached to yours contravened above provisions.

“She stands dismissed from the Force. Dekit her. Retrieve police documents in her possession with immediate effect. O/C CFO Ekiti only. You are to relay signal to IPPIS Abuja for the stoppage of her salary with immediate effect.

“DECOMPOLS (deputy commissioners of police)/ACPOLS (assistant commissioners of police)/HODs/DPOs Ekiti State only. You are to lecture women police. Treat as very urgent.”

When Nigerians online got the news, many pointed to the discriminatory body of this law and the way it continues to make workplace structure unequal for women.

Ridiculous things happen in Nigeria everyday, but this is one of the most ridiculous yet. Even if it's in the police act. Absolute bullshit and discriminatory https://t.co/Mqku2VGVo6
— AuntyJay (@Jaydee811) January 27, 2021

https://twitter.com/SortOfKnownO/status/1354429734898294786?s=20

https://twitter.com/AthenaZor/status/1354416789892030467?s=20

This got us thinking about what other binding laws apply to Nigerian female police officers and what they essentially mean.
1. Female police officers are required to seek permission to marry.
Wait, what?

This law in Section 124 mandates female police officers to seek permission before getting married so some background checks can be carried out on them. This law, however, does not apply to men. While contributing to a bill that sought to end existing discrimination against women in the police force in December 2019, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said, “A male counterpart can marry a criminal. Nobody will go to check whether the woman he wants to marry is a criminal or not. A man does not need to write to ask for permission to marry and the question of not being able to bear arms.”
1. Female police officers are not allowed to drill under arms.
Are you people serious right now?

Nestled in Section 123, this law means that Nigerian female police officers cannot bear arms while carrying out their duties.
1. No Maternity Leave.
According to section 126, female police officers do not have the privilege of getting maternity leave should they happen to be pregnant. It isn’t clear what alternatives the law provides for this specific situation (although we suspect job termination) but the law still remains.
1. Nigerian Female police officers are not allowed to wear jewelry on duty.
say what?

Yes, you read that right. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings and all things deemed jewellery are prohibited on female police officers who are on duty (Section 128). It is not quite clear why this law was passed, or what goal it serves. It is not certain if a revised bill will be passed any time soon.

There are more laws that directly discriminate against Nigerian female police officers and deter them from enjoying privileges such as choosing who to love, and ensuring job security for them and financial support for their families, as the law only recognizes men as viable candidates for family support when they are gone. This needs to change.
Nelson

January 27, 2021

Citizen

Female police officer sacked in Ekiti, Nigerian police
When Kelvin Eghagha heard about the death of David Ntekim-Rex on Sunday, 17th of January, two days after it happened, he remembers feeling upset because he thought his older brother, who broke the news to him, was making a tasteless joke. “But he seemed serious about it, so I asked him how he could confirm this and he told me that a neighbor close to David’s house had told him.”

Kelvin’s parents were colleagues and close family friends with David’s mother, Dr. Yewande Ntekim-Rex, a senior lecturer at the English department, University of Lagos. Kelvin had known David since he was a child and had come to see him and his other two brothers as his own siblings, and their mother, Dr. Yewande as his aunt.

Later that day, Kelvin drove his parents to David’s house where he learned more about David’s death. As he recounted the story he was told over Zoom, his voice heavy and disappointed, the timelines and scenarios that make up this story pointed to how little regard authorities have for a Nigerian life.

While trying to keep a firm composure, Dr. Yewande was the one who explained how she had been worried that David hadn’t returned home at around 8 p.m., which was when he usually came home. She then called on family relatives to help her look around the neighborhood for David, a search that would end when she got to the side of the street where David’s body lay, bloody and barely conscious.

The Robbery:

David Ntekim-Rex suffered a robbery attack on a Friday night, the 15th of January in Jibowu, a street within close range of Yaba, in Lagos, Nigeria. He was on his way home from work when some robbers riding past on a bike tried to steal his phone and when they couldn’t, they shot him in the face. Eye-witnesses at the scene were afraid of taking his body to the hospital to avoid being possibly framed for his shooting if stopped by the police. But they had to do something, so they called the police.

By the time his mother would get to the scene, the police had arrived and were taking pictures, collecting evidence. “Aunty Yewande explained that when she held David’s body in her arms, she could still feel his pulse, but the police would not let her take him to the hospital for treatment.” This was around 8 pm and between that time and when the police would finally let them go at 10 pm, they had tried to take possession of David’s bag containing his laptop. They had insisted, as Kelvin was told, to keep the laptop without explaining why.

The Chase To Save David’s Life:

When the police agreed to let David be taken to the hospital at 10 pm, his pulse had already begun to dull. “When they got to the Military Hospital, Yaba, she said the gates were locked. She and the relatives with her kept trying to get the attention of the nurses who they could see behind the gate, but they made no move to help. After a while a matron at the hospital stepped out to see what was going on, she checked for a pulse and confirmed that the pulse had grown significantly weak. The doctor that would later step in only felt David’s pulse briefly and then told them to take him away,” says Kelvin. But that would not be the only time David would be rejected care. Kelvin was told that the police had insisted on David’s family driving with them to a police station at Sabo, Yaba where they were delayed even further. “Aunty Yewande told me that when they got there, the police took a long time getting the statement ready. For one, the senior officer that was meant to write the report was inebriated and it took him up to an hour to write the report because he was staggering and unconscious. After the statement had been put together, the police began to inquire about the laptop again. It wasn’t clear what their aim was, but they weren’t allowed to leave until 12:30.” The police’s insistence on a statement was especially suspicious as the law mandating a police statement before hospitals can treat gunshot wounds was pretty scrapped in 2019.

According to what was relayed to Kelvin, the family couldn’t get any medical help at LUTH’s emergency ward. “The doctor they finally got to speak with asked aunty Yewande if David’s body was still warm, and she confirmed that it was. He asked her if he still had a pulse and that if it was low or if he didn’t at all that there was nothing he could do. He did not come out from behind the door where he spoke to them, he didn’t check David’s body, he just shut the door on them and walked away.”

What The Police Had To Say:

In a statement made to Punch Newspaper, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi alleged that David had passed away by the time they got to the scene of the crime. He said, “On January 15, 2021, we were informed around 11.20 pm. On getting to the scene, police men met his lifeless body, but relations insisted that he was not dead. So, police took him to Military Hospital, Yaba but the hospital said they could not treat him and then referred him to LUTH.

“He was accepted at LUTH and he was confirmed dead. The family returned to the police to get extracts at the station for a mortuary. So, the allegation of the police abandoning him is not true.”

–

David wasn’t just a prodigious tech talent, beating 17,000 other participants in the 2018 Master the Mainframe competition to emerge as that year’s regional co-winner, or collecting outstanding awards for his computer skills since 2014. He was also a child who was fiercely loved by his mother, “she was the one who plaited the braids he had on his head and when she talked about him, you would often see her eyes sparkle with pride.” Kevin tells Zikoko.

“He was a quiet person and being very gifted. If you’d met him, he most likely won’t say much to you, but when you leave, he’d describe you so well,” a friend Temitope Oladejo tells Zikoko. Many of David’s friends also share that sentiment and it is without a doubt that he meant a great deal to the people he left behind. At this time, not much is known about who will be held accountable for denying David the early treatment that might have kept him alive today, but one thing continues to be apparent about the current systems available in Nigeria, and it is clear that they have been designed in one way or another to end lives and snuff out dreams.

“This incident is really making hit accelerate on my Japa plans. David’s family is going through unbelievable pain right now. They need all the support they can get. There were plans for David to move out of the country this year, his mum was certain that he still had some time, that he would be safe enough to make it out of here alive. He had so much promise, now it’s all gone.”

You should read this too: 5 Nigerians Talk About Getting Their NIN

Nelson

January 22, 2021

Citizen

David Ntekim-Rex, Nigerian police
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.

The Nigerian police is ranked as one of the worst in the world, and the Nigerian society is notable for widespread human rights abuses. In your house or outside it, you’re always a moment away from having your rights abused by the police in Nigeria.

After the #EndSARS protests, the Nigerian police have ramped up arrests of people who are perceived to be the arrowheads of the protests. Typically, the Nigerian police round people up through whatever means necessary and then whisk a person off to a far-away place where they have no access to their friends, family or lawyer.

Here, we explain the relevant law in criminal administration in Nigeria, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015), and the important things the Nigerian police should do when they arrest you or want to have you arrested.

Of course, whether the Nigerian police actually does these things is another matter entirely.

You:

Nigerian police:

Here are 11 rights the Nigerian police must consider when they have you arrested as enshrined in the law :

1) Use of handcuffs

You cannot be handcuffed unless you have attempted to escape or it is necessary to handcuff you for your safety, or by an order of the court. (Section 5)

2) Notification of arrest

The police officer or anyone making the arrest must notify you of the reason for your arrest, except you were arrested while committing an offence, after committing an offence or after you escaped from a police custody. (Section 6 (1).

3) Right to a legal practitioner

The police officer making the arrest or the police officer in charge of a police station must inform you of your right to remain silent or to avoid answering any question until after you meet a legal practitioner or anyone of your choice.

They must also inform you of your right to consult a legal practitioner before making, endorsing or writing any statement or answering any question that has been put to you.

They must also notify you of free legal representation by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, in the case where you are unable to afford a lawyer.

Also, the police or security authorities who are in charge of the custody where you have been arrested must notify your next of kin or relative of your arrest, and you don’t have to pay anything for this service. Section 6 (2).

4) Arresting another person

Nobody can be arrested in place of another suspect.

This means that the police cannot arrest your friend or family member cannot be arrested in your place. (Section 7).

5) Treatment with dignity

You must be treated with dignity and humanely while in the custody of the police or whoever has arrested you. Section 8 (1)

This means that you must be treated with respect as a human being, and not as a slave or a property.

6) Arrest for a civil wrong

You cannot be arrested by the police for a civil wrong or a breach of contract. Section 8 (2).

A civil wrong is something that you have done to someone else that affects their rights, like noise pollution.

A breach of contract is when you fail to fulfill your end of a bargain with another person.

7) Arraignment or release

You must be brought to court in accordance with the provisions of the law or be released conditionally or unconditionally. Section 8 (3).

8) Search of an arrested suspect

In the case that you have been arrested, whoever is arresting you may search you using the force that is necessary, but the person must safely keep all the properties found on you, except the clothes you’re wearing. (Section 9).

The search must also be conducted decently, and it must be done by a person who is of the same sex as you, except where it is urgent to conduct the search and a person of your gender is not around.

9. An inventory of everything recovered from you

Once you have been arrested and the items on you have been taken away by the police, the police must record everything taken away from you in an inventory, and the inventory is not invalidated even if you fail to sign it.

You can direct that your lawyer or any other person should be given a copy of the inventory, and the police can release your properties to you before you are charged to court.

The police must also return all your properties to you once they have found that you are not guilty of the offence you were being charged for. (Section 10)

10. You can only be arrested without a warrant where:
- a police officer suspects strongly that you have committed an offence against the laws of Nigeria or against the laws of another country.
- the offence was committed right in the presence of the police officer.
- you have obstructed a police officer in the conduct of his duty, or you have attempted to escape or have escaped from custody.
- a stolen property is found on you or a property that may appear as if it was stolen was found on you.
- a police officer suspects that you ran away as a deserter from one of the armed forces in Nigeria.
- if a police officer suspects that you have committed a crime outside Nigeria that warrants that you are arrested in Nigeria.
- you are in a situation where you have to prove that you did not break into a house, steal a car or be in possession of any dangerous weapon.
- the police officer believes that a court has issued a warrant for your arrest.
- the police officer believes that you are hiding your identity because you want to commit an offence.
- your warrant of arrest has been issued, or a Judge, Magistrate or a superior police officer has directed the police officer to arrest you.
- the police officer believes that you are trying to commit an offence and arresting you without warrant is necessary to prevent you from committing the offence. (Section 18)
11) Notification of offence and access to communication

Once you have been arrested, with or without a warrant, the police must take you to a police station and inform you of your crime in the language that you understand.

The police must also give you reasonable time to obtain legal advice, to communicate with your family and friends on how you can meet the bail conditions and how you can make arrangements for your defence or release. (Section 14)

12) Recording of arrests

Within 48 hours of your arrest, whether you have been been arrested with or without a warrant, the police or any other security agency arresting you must take a record of your:
- alleged offence;
- the date and circumstance of the arrest;
- your full name, occupation and residential address;
- your identification records, which includes your height, your photograph, your full fingerprint impressions, and any other means of identifying you. (Section 15).
These are just some of the things you must know when the police arrest you. It is important that the police treat you with care and follow the law as you remain innocent until a court of law has proven that you are guilty. Hence, your rights must not be trampled upon.

For more on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015) and how criminal processes should be embarked upon in Nigeria, read here.

We hope you’ve learned a thing or two about how to unfuck yourself when the Nigerian government moves mad. Check back every weekday for more Zikoko Citizen explainers.

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Doyin Olagunju

November 19, 2020

Citizen

arrest, Handcuffs, Laws, Nigeria, Nigerian police
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.
The Nigerian police are always averse to protests. But things took a different turn earlier today when the Lagos State government, through its official Twitter account, stated that the Lagos State police command has vowed to resist any protests in Lagos State, under any guise or “nomenclature”.

The Lagos State Police Command has vowed to resist any form of planned protest, procession or gathering under any guise or nomenclature in Lagos as the government and residents of the State recover from the devastating havoc and violence unleashed by suspected hoodlums.#LASG pic.twitter.com/RvUkIrBufE
— The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) November 5, 2020

As expected, a lot of social media users were angry at the declaration. Many people referred to the constitution as supporting the rights of citizens to protests, and they went on about how the police and the Lagos State government were trying to stifle the rights of displeased Nigerian or protesters.

So Does this mean that Lagosians have no right to protest?
That they have been stripped off their fundamental rights to protest?
I ask so this tweet can be clarified & expanciated on as one can read different means to it. https://t.co/dWxQiswxLz
— 44.Yommie 🗽 (@itsYomi) November 6, 2020

Curiously, we decided to look at the laws that guide assembly in Nigeria, including if and when the Nigerian police can put an end to protests in Nigeria. Just maybe the police and the Lagos State government were seeing some things we weren’t.

Read: Who Has Powers Over The Nigeria Police Force?

1. Section 40 of the Constition

The most important position of the law for anyone who wants to understand the position of Nigerian laws on protests is Section 39 and 40 of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution.

Section 39 of the constitution guarantees free speech while Section 40 of Nigeria’s 1999 the constitution states that:

Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or association for the protection of his interests.

This provision states simply that everyone is entitled to assembly freely and associate with other people.

However, Section 45 of the constitution states that any law against section 40 is valid if it is in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health, or in the interest of protecting the freedom of other people.

So, the only thing that can affect the right to hold a peaceful protest is if the government makes a law that restricts movement in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health or in the interest of protecting the freedom of other people.

But the laws on assembly are not finished.

2. Public Order Act of 2004

The “Public Order Act” was enacted in 2004.

Section 1(1) of the act gives a governor of a state the power to direct the conduct of any assembly on a public road or all public places of resort in the state, and prescribe the route any procession may pass.

Section 1 (2) also states that anyone who wants to convene any assembly or meeting or of forming any procession in Nigeria must have a licence to do so.

The person must first make an application for a licence to the governor not less than 48 hours before the assembly, and if the governor is satisfied that the assembly is not likely to cause a breach of the peace, he must direct any superior police officer to issue a licence, not less than 24 hours to the assembly, specifying the name of the licensee and defining the conditions on which the assembly to take place.

If he is not so satisfied, he must convey his refusal in the same manner to the applicant within the time stipulated.

Section 1 (4) of the Act also gives the governor the power to delegate his powers in relation to the whole state or part thereof, to the Commissioner of Police of the State or any superior police officer of a rank not below that of a Chief Superintendent of Police.

This means that a state governor has to give a licence before people can assemble in any state, and he can delegate his powers to the commissioner of police of the state.

But the position of the law is still not over with regards to protests.

3. All Nigeria People’s Party v. Inspector General of Police (2006)

In this case, All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) took the IGP to court and challenged the constitutionality of the police permit under the Public Order Act after the police disrupted their rally.

At the Federal High Court, the Judge stated the Public Order Act is a violation of section 39 and 40 of the constitution, and chapter 11 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Right, and the law is a violation of the right of people’s assembly to free speech.

The judge agreed with Mr Falana, the lawyer for ANPP, that Nigeria’s criminal law should be used to prosecute violent protesters, but the rights to assemble cannot be taken away if they protest peacefully.

The judge conclusively stated that “sections 1(2),(3),(4),(5) and (6), of the Public Order Act are inconsistent with the fundamental rights provisions in the 1999 Constitution and to the extent of their inconsistency, they are void. I hereby so declare.”

4. In Conclusion

The Federal High Court has held, through a continuous order, that the Inspector-General of Police, whether by himself, his agents, privies and servants cannot prevent aggrieved citizens of Nigeria from organizing or convening peaceful assemblies, meetings and rallies against unpopular government measures and policies.

The Court of Appeal also held, on the same case, that permits for peaceful demonstrations are things of the past, and that protesting peacefully is part of the fundamental pillars of a democracy.

It is now a settled case that peaceful protests are guaranteed under the Nigerian constitution, and are an important part of Nigeria’s democracy. And they cannot be denied except in a situation where Nigeria or part of the country is in a special emergency like a disaster.

Quiz: What Are You Most Likely To Get Arrested For?

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Doyin Olagunju

November 6, 2020

Citizen

Constitution, Nigerian police, Police, protests
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.

The recent events and killings in Oyigbo, Rivers State, all started on October 21, 2020. On that day, members of the “Independent People of Biafra” (IPOB), a group that has been described as a terrorist organisation by the Federal Government and a Federal High Court, were said to have invaded Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State “in a senseless and mindless attack”, killing three police officers and burning down three police stations.

In a press briefing given on Monday, October 26, 2020, the commissioner of police in Rivers State, Joseph Mukan, accused members of the IPOB as hiding under the #EndSARS movement to kill three police officers in the state and burn down three police stations in Afam and Oyigbo Local Government areas.

He gave the identity of the killed police officers as Sunday Dubon, Swawale Ornan, and Umunna Uchechukwu, whose corpses were either burnt to ashes or parts of their bodies cut off.

Read: Why Are Nigerian Police Officers Off The Streets?

Governor Wike Imposes Curfew, Proscribes IPOB

Following this development, the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, in a state-wide broadcast, stated that the state government had “serious concern” about the activities of the outlawed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) in the state.

He stated that it had become a regular occurrence for IPOB members to disturb the peace of the state, including unleashing violence on communities, people and police officers.

He stated that Oyigbo town had become the “operational base” of the group in the state, and that following the violence that the group routinely unleashes in Rivers State, the government has decided to “outlaw IPOB from existing or operating in Rivers State or any part thereof”, and that security agencies are to stop any agitation by IPOB and arrest any person that identifies with IPOB in the state.

He also declared one Stanley Mgbere wanted for destroying lives and properties in Eleme and Onne Local Government Areas, and that there was a ₦50 million bounty for anyone who had useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the Stanley Mgbere.

Meanwhile, before that time, specifically on October 21, the governor had imposed a curfew in the state in Mile 1, Mile 2, Emenike, Ikowu, and Iloabuchi areas of Port-Harcourt Local Government Area as well Oil Mill area of Obi-Akpor Local Government Area. He later lifted the curfew in every part of the state except that of Oyigbo Local Government Area.

Read: 14 Hilarious Reactions To The Curfew In Nigeria That Starts 4th of May

Curfew In Oyigbo, Killings By Soldiers

Since Wednesday 21st October 2020, residents of Oyigbo Local Government have been in their homes following the 24-hours curfew imposed by the Rivers State Government. Reports say that residents lack access to food and basic healthcare services.

Officers of the Nigerian military have also been deployed to the area, and there have been reports of human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings by officers of the Nigerian military.

The soldiers are said to be going from house to house, while harrassing and killing people.

https://twitter.com/dspken/status/1322782455758266369

There are credible reports that army is moving from house to house to kill people in Oyigbo Rivers State. This is recklessness & wickedness. American military risked all to save just a citizen yesterday but Nigeria's army is killing it's people. Brutai must go.#Obigbomassacre
— Tope Akinyode (@TopeAkinyode) November 1, 2020

Online publications are putting the death toll in Oyibo Local Government at more than a hundred while stating that the military has blocked journalists and human rights groups from accessing Oyigbo, an Igbo-dominated settlement eastwards from Port-Harcourt.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army is denying the accusations. The public relations officer for 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Charles Ekeocha has insisted that the ongoing operation was not designed to inconvenience residents of Oyigbo.

According to him: “We are there to carry out an operation to recover weapons carted away from our soldiers who were killed so that the criminals will not use the guns to kill innocent citizens in Rivers and outside the State. We carry out our search professionally”.

Read: The Nigerian Military Has A History of Killing Unarmed Civilians

We hope you’ve learned a thing or two about how to unfuck yourself when the Nigerian government moves mad. Check back every weekday for more Zikoko Citizen explainers.

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Doyin Olagunju

November 1, 2020

Citizen

Nigerian police, Nigerian soldiers, Rivers State
Citizen is a column that explains how the government’s policies fucks citizens and how we can unfuck ourselves.

There has been a curious observation that Nigerian police officers are off the streets. This is coming after the wave of violence that greeted the curfew order imposed in Lagos State and other states in Nigeria following the #EndSARS protests and the highly controversial #LekkiMassacre

Read a recent report in the @GuardianNigeria detailing how the people of Lagos are living in fear and trepidation due to the absence of law enforcement officers on the roads. My reaction; there's always a consequence for every action taken. Especially dead brain ones.
— Charles Anazodo (@chaplinez70) October 27, 2020

But if police officers are truly off the streets, there’s only one thing that can happen next — anarchy.

Hoodlums, thugs and other miscreants will cause mayhem and unleash havoc on the lives and properties of many citizens, and there will be widespread lawlessness. And maybe it is already happening.

The typical Nigerian is a lawbreaker at heart. No police or traffic wardens on the road now & it's obvious. People driving down the wrong way in Ikeja, Oshodi & Ikoyi.

Bikes, Kekes, taxis, buses, beat-up cars, moderately clean cars & luxury cars.

All of 'em.

Breaking the law.
— Temisan Okomi (@temiokomi) October 28, 2020

But Why Are The Police Off The Streets — Fear or Anger?

Over the past few days, the police have maintained that 22 of their officers have been killed in wave of violence that spiraled after the #EndSARS protests, and that 205 police stations were destroyed in the mayhem.

Available Reports show that twenty-two (22) police personnel were extra-judicially killed by some rampaging protesters and scores injured during the protests. Many of the injured personnel are in life threatening conditions at the hospitals.
— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) October 30, 2020

Two hundred and five (205) Police stations and formations including other critical private and public infrastructure were also damaged by a section of the protesters.
— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) October 30, 2020

Other reports also claim that, at least, 17 police stations were destroyed in Lagos alone, including the loss of about 205 “security assets”.

10 firearms, including 8 AK-47 rifles were also reportedly taken away from police stations during the violent attacks.

It is this attack on Nigerian police officers that is said to have affected the morale of members of the police force, with many of them preferring to stay in their barracks rather than return to the streets or police stations for fear of being attacked or killed.

Police Officers are now afraid of the people – Callers react to the absence of law enforcement officials on the streets of Lagos

Why do you think the Police Officers are off the road? #Letstalk pic.twitter.com/5gVEd83Z45
— Nigeria Info FM 99.3 (@NigeriainfoFM) October 29, 2020

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission, the body that monitors the conduct of police officers, has directed the striking police officers to return back to their duty posts or face dismissal.

Read: Who Has Powers Over The Nigeria Police Force?

Illegal Arrests

But the police are altogether not complicit in this situation. Following attacks on police stations and police officers, the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, stated that the police had arrested 1,596 suspects in connection with the attacks and the subsequent looting all over the country.

However, the way and manner these “suspects” are being treated leaves more questions to be answered.

I have in the past 24 hours received several calls & complaints from lawyers and Nigerians generally about the recent public parade of hundreds of persons arrested and detained by the @PoliceNG on the suspicion of taking part in the looting and destruction of public buildings… pic.twitter.com/LYiuTroyV3
— Olumide Akpata (@OlumideAkpata) October 29, 2020

Many of the arrested suspects have been held in detention for days, without access to necessities like food and water, or even communication with their family and friends.

In many, if not most of these cases, these people, who are first & foremost Nigerian citizens, have been held incommunicado for days without access to their families or their legal practitioners and under inhumane or deplorable conditions in brazen breach of the Constitution.
— Olumide Akpata (@OlumideAkpata) October 29, 2020

The Constitution presumes all suspects and defendants as innocent until proven guilty; prohibits the detention of citizens beyond 24-48 hours; and forbids the subjection of Nigerian citizens to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.
— Olumide Akpata (@OlumideAkpata) October 29, 2020

In many instances, the police round up suspects, parade them and presume they are guilty, even without the pronouncement of the court to this effect.

The Nigeria Police are grand masters of revenge and payback.
Their interrogation skills is so ancient and parading suspects with thumb up charges and frivolous allegations..
The NPF need total reform and orientation on handling of modern policing tactics. https://t.co/WxP4Is4esp
— Felix Uvi Ohwobevughe Ph.D (@Philaduo23d) October 29, 2020

Read: Here’s All You Need To Know About The #AbujaPoliceRaidOnWomen

We hope you’ve learned a thing or two about how to unfuck yourself when the Nigerian government moves mad. Check back every weekday for more Zikoko Citizen explainers.

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Doyin Olagunju

October 31, 2020

Citizen

endsarsprotest, Nigeria, Nigerian police
The Nigerian Police is currently recruiting, and we want a clean slate from the past. These questions must be asked if we are serious about integrity and professionalism in the force.

1. “Are you hopelessly addicted to 50 Naira?”
Obviously, he won’t say he is. But check his eyes, if he describes 50 Naira with so much passion and gusto, and his eyes light up with lust, that’s an incoming thief. He is high on mutilated N50 Naira. Boot him out!

2. “Who Is Kcee? Do you know his brother E-money?“
He will try to hide his admiration for Kcee (“Alhaji Bureau de Changer”) and his elder brother E-money. But pay attention to his lips, if he smirks it any suggestively then he’s somebody who will leave the force to open doors for rich people. He’s a door opener, not a police. Get that man out!

3. “Are tattoos from the Devil?”
If he says no earrings, no tattoos and no dreadlocks and anyone who has them on is suspect, that’s a SARS material. He will be a menace on the streets. Sack that man before you’ve even given him a job!

4. “Is virginity Important?”

If he says virginity is a material fact, and that he has to ask about virginity once he questions any girl, that man is going to be a benefit policeman, and a terror to our girls. Sweep him out!
5. Tell him to say “Park”
If he shouts “Parrrrrrrk!”, and the veins in his head is bulging out and his eyes are almost coming out of their socket, that’s a baby tyrant. He will stop every car and tax every driver, even more than Sanwo-Olu. Show that man the exit!

6. “Road or air travel, which do you prefer?”
If he says he “so much” likes road travel and that he likes Nigeria’s rough and rugged inter-state roads, he’s going to be an inter-state extortionist. Decline his application before he extorts all the drivers on Nigerian roads.

7. “Oga or Boss, which is correct?”
If he says he likes calling his superiors “Oga”, you’re looking at a Makanaki. He will start a bribery ring with his “Oga”, and they’ll share it 70-30. He understands how to pay tithe in the Devil’s kingdom. Sack than man, now!

Jara
Check his wrist and see if he’s wearing a wrist watch. If he’s not, he will run away from the crime scene and come back hours after the criminals have gone. He’s a scammer, that one.

But we know the Nigerian Police Force won’t ask these tough questions. That means, God safe us from this incoming batch of members of the police force who will certainly not be our friends, as always.
Doyin Olagunju

August 25, 2020

Citizen, General

Interview, Nigeria, Nigerian police, Police
So on the 13th of July 2020, the Nigerian Police posted an instructional video on Twitter on how to navigate its online portal for those looking to join the force. Nigerian Twitter saw the video and lost its collective mind because…see ehn…the video…wasn’t…

After the hailstorm of criticism, they deleted the video. But because I’m a messy bitch who lives for drama, I’m about to list out all the things that were wrong with it. Watch it below:

https://twitter.com/blickyrick/status/1282998866913173504?s=19

1) The Voiceover: I damn near died laughing the moment the voiceover began because it sounded like it was done by Dracula on a day he was battling a pretty nasty head cold. Wtf was that accent? Transylvanian??

2) The Soundtrack: Not to expose the shenanigans I used to get up to as a child, but if you’re familiar with the mild, almost retro video game-like background music from 90s softcore pornography, you’ll understand what’s funny about this video’s soundtrack. Here’s a meme that perfectly represents all I could imagine while watching the video:

3) The Spelling: They forgot the “t” in “recruitment”, misspelled “fourth” as “forth”, and “complaint” as “compliant”. I’m not saying that whoever made this can’t spell. (Those mistakes are obviously typos.). But that proves this was made in a hurry, and the fact that no one at the Nigerian police force noticed the mistakes is troubling.

4) The Design: Given the way things like this in Nigeria, you just know an insane amount of money was allocated to this project but we somehow got THIS as the end result.

They could’ve at least used a black avatar. Who the hell is that white nigga?

What’s up, Zikoko Fam? It would mean the world to us if you spared a few minutes to fill this Reader Survey. It’s so we can bring you the content you really want!

Astor George

July 14, 2020

Pop

Nigerian police, Reruitment Video
If you live in Nigeria, then you already know that our police are not above moving mad. So, the likelihood of you getting arrested, rightfully or not, is quite high. That’s why this quiz is here to prepare you for what you’re most likely to get in trouble for.

Take to find out:

NerdEfiko

March 10, 2020

Quizzes

arrest, jail, Nigeria, Nigerian police, policemen, prison, Quiz
Ever watched one of those Hollywood movies with serial killers doing serial killer shit and just started shuddering? Movies like Seven and The Silence of Lambs? From troubled childhoods to bouts of insanity or using a particular motif, serial killers in movies usually have a very peculiar pattern that boils down to a “why” and“how”. Surely, everybody knows this.

That’s why it’s crazy that with the news of a serial killer on the loose, the Nigeria Police quickly concluded (without public evidence to back it up) that the victims were prostitutes in a tone that said, “Oh, look, they don’t really need protection.” As if that wasn’t enough, they advised women to desist from prostitution. And that’s all they could say.

Let’s back it up a little bit for context:
- It started in late July, or early August. Different accounts tell it differently. It was in a hotel in Olu Obasanjo Road, Abia State; a man strangled a 23-year-old woman, Maureen Ewuru. When the news came out initially, the police said the prime suspect was her boyfriend. They also assumed it was an isolated event, but more events sprang up to prove that there’s really really likely a serial killer on the loose.
“After having sex with her, he locked the room and took flight but unfortunately for him, he left a trace which is helping us in our investigation”
– The Nigerian police.
- A few days later, this time in Owerri, Imo State, a hotel attendant found the dead body of a woman under a bed in one of the hotel rooms they had to clean. Apparently, the woman had come in with a man on a Saturday, and by the next day, she was dead and the man was nowhere to be found. There was evidence that sex had taken place; whether it was consensual or not remains a mystery, but the police again concluded that the man in question had to have been her lover.
Hotel in Woji, GRA
- A week later, and two weeks after the very first incident, another woman was found dead in a hotel in Woji, GRA phase one in Port Harcourt. Like Maureen Ewuru, she was strangled to death. It was at this point that the police started to suspect that it might be more than a “boyfriend kills girlfriend” type situation. In this case, the man took everything that could be used to identify her: from her clothes to her phone.
- The most interesting part of all of this is that there’s a pattern. With the bodies of the women strangled in Port Harcourt, a white cloth (in some reports referred to as a handkerchief) was tied around their necks.
- At a march organised to protest the killings at the police headquarters, the deputy commissioner of police in Port Harcourt, Chuks Envonwu told the protesting women to advise their fellow women to not go into prostitution because it’s only prostitutes that can fall victim of this crime. Wild right? Maybe not so much. If you step out of your bubble once in a while, it’s easy to realise that this is how the average Nigerian man thinks.
- However, Soibi Ibibo Jack the woman who organised the protest gave it back to him. She told BBC that while the women killed were not sex workers, the lives of sex workers also matter. In her words, “They’re human beings and need protection too.” We stan.
- Only a few days after this protest, on September 15, another death was recorded. A woman died in a motel in Rumuola area in Port Harcourt in another quite similar death by strangulation. While the chairman of Nigeria Hotels Association Rivers State Chapter, Eugene Nwauzi has said that they’re working with the Police, DSS and State Government to stop this menace, it’s quite sad that these many women have to die before more action is put in place.
- What are the police doing? They claim to be investigating while going around calling the victims prostitutes and prioritising the investigation of a parody @policeng account on Twitter.
Meanwhile, investigation is on to ascertain the source of the fraudulent handle and deal with it appropriately.
— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) September 16, 2019
- As it is, there are unconfirmed reports of the suspected ways in which the women must have been lured to the hotel. One Twitter user posted a broadcast message. The woman in the message narrated her experience with another woman who wanted to purchase some products she sold. The female buyer called her over the phone and told her to deliver the products to a hotel in Port Harcourt. When she got to the reception of the hotel, the female buyer told her to come up to her room. Remembering that a serial killer was on the loose, she decided to run for her life.
It’s only a theory, but who knows?

Is it a gender war? Maybe, maybe not. There have been arguments about this all of last weekend, and theories about the motive of the serial killer. But what is clear so far is that women are being targeted, and by the definition of the term serial killer, the victims often have something in common: their demographic profile, appearance, gender or race. Reporting this story and seeing so many unconfirmed accounts and rumours made us wonder: just how many deaths from the hands of this serial killer have gone unreported? We do hope the police start acting right.
Ope

September 17, 2019

Citizen

Nigerian police, Port harcourt, Serial Killer, Women
Uncle Yemi Osinbajo has done it again. This time, he has shown out for guys about the dreadful SARS situation.

Why does it seem like whenever Baba Bubs goes on one of his frequent medical trips, things just seem to work a little better? Somebody help me say ~~political gimmicks~~ good governance.

On Tuesday August 14, the Acting President aka Uncle Yemi gave directives to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to overhaul the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

We were shook!

Especially because all our complaints had always been brushed off as false or exaggerated.

186 million Retweets to #EndSARS.
Oya let’s go!
— Abayomi Shogunle, 𝘧𝘴𝘪 (@YomiShogunle) July 26, 2018

Just a few weeks ago, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Yomi Shogunle still trolled Nigerians with this irresponsible tweet. He should better switch careers if he wants to be making silly jokes online.

Oh, you remember SARS, the police unit that was so infamous for their abuse of power and Nigerian citizens, we had to write you a survival guide?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcUyVmPn2NS/?taken-by=endsarsmovement_now_

This is just one of the many, many videos people have used to back their complaints. Let’s not even go into pictures and narratives. But we’re all lying, hey. The #EndSARS movement has been going for at least two years! Nonstop police brutality for two years.

While we’re overjoyed that our pleas and relentless #EndSARS campaign finally made some headway, we still have some doubts.

Way too many people have been unlawfully killed, jailed and extorted for us to just accept it, and things are often not what they seem in Nigeria. Gotta stay woke.

First of all, it is important to note that this overhaul doesn’t mean the police department is going to be scrapped.

This overhaul is more like a reform. In summary, the state SARS will be broken down and the officers reassigned to the already existing Federal SARS (there will only be FSARS). I know what you’re thinking, but chill. We are told that this is only going to be after investigations into the existing abuse allegations have been done, as well as mental evaluations and retraining.

Again, I know what you’re thinking, because even the Federal SARS people abuse the citizens.

The new FSARS is to be strictly intelligence-driven and their duties are to be restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery, kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders related to the stated offences. Nothing else.

At least that’s what they’re telling us. Me I’m only a reporter.

How are the illegal arrests going to stop, you ask?

Well, the new FSARS officers are now mandated to go about bearing proper identities. They will have a ‘new’ uniform so there will be no more random black-polo-clad-hoodlum-looking-ass-~~niggas~~ jumping out of unmarked space buses. At least this will curb the possibility of the officers being impersonated by armed robbers and such. Also, THEY ARE NO LONGER AUTHORISED TO STOP AND SEARCH! Let’s forget the fact that I still saw the same SARS doing that just yesterday.

What can we do if we still get harassed?

Call the police lol. Honestly, I don’t have an answer for this. This is a commendable move on Uncle Yemi’s part, but we worry about the enforcement and implementation. Hopefully, this is not just another one of those reforms that don’t change anything at the end of the day.

And if you’re like me that is happy about this development but still believes this is just pre-election gra-gra and doesn’t trust anything this government does, I hope you’ve gotten your PVC o!

If you haven’t, there are two more weeks for you to register. Hurry! If you need any help, we gatchu!

Sade

August 16, 2018

General, Gist

fsars, Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria, Nigerian police, Police, police brutality, sars, Yemi Osibanjo
To be truthful, this is every Nigerian’s face whenever they hear, ‘The Police is your friend’.

On one wonderful day of Twitter amebo, we were just minding our business, when this now-deleted tweet, from the Nigerian Police Twitter handle came up.

Apparently, they were betting up and down instead of doing their police work.

They were forming sharp guy and deleted the tweet but we thank God for screenshots.

Nigerian Police, abeg…

Maryam

November 3, 2016

Gist

betting, Nigerian police
Just when we thought Nigerian police officers were the only ones that liked to form bad guy…

And turn up like there’s no tomorrow…

These Ghanaian officers just shocked us in this video.

If Ghana police are not taking bribes this is what they're doing, Kmttt😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Umrq3Z5a0o
— manda 🇬🇭 (@Comanda_x) August 4, 2016

They were giving us serious moves o!

Ghanaians, when they see the police officers twerking up and down.

Not every time enforce law, sometimes throw home training away and turn up!

Maryam

August 4, 2016

Gist

dance, ghana, Ghanaian, ghanaian police, Nigerian police, party, Police
This week has been a tough one! The murders of two black men by police officers in America have got everyone talking.

And we have some things to say about them too:

But American police officers are not the only ones that behave unlawfully, our own Nigerian police are lacking serious home training too:

Have you had a bad experience with police officers in Nigeria or abroad? Share them below in our comments section.

Damilola

July 10, 2016

General

Nigerian police, zikoko podcast
As if the list of things that get imported into the country isn’t shocking enough…
The Inspector General of Police recently disclosed that the Nigerian Police Force has spent roughly 600 million Naira on the importation of dogs from South Africa in the last couple years.

The Inspector-General, Solomon Arase stated that 400 K-9 dogs will be bred in Nigeria rather than spending all that money on importing foreign breeds.

This means the Buy Naija movement has spread to the Nigerian police.

Maybe Daddy Fashola can pump all that saved money into the power sector so Nigerians can get better supply of electricity.

No shade to these dogs but will the locally bred police dogs be groomed like the Nigerian dogs we all know of?

When you find out the police spent 600 million on dogs but can’t arrest the armed robbers troubling your street.

Why haven’t we seen these dogs patrolling the streets with the Police Patrol Team?

When you realise all that money could have solved the “Madam, we no get fuel for our van” problems.

Or used to improve the deplorable conditions of police cells and their inmates.

Anyway, this project will definitely save lots of money for the country. We hope these locally bred dogs get to finally serve the country this time around.
[zkk_poll post=23192 poll=content_block_standard_format_11]

Maryam

March 11, 2016

Gist

600 million, k-9 dogs, Nigerian dogs, Nigerian money, Nigerian police, police dogs
Apparently, the Nigerian police force in spite of not having adequate space for human detainees, have started arresting animals.

Will these goats be detained with other humans?
What offence did these poor goats commit?

Were they even lead into their cells in handcuffs?
In the wee hours of March 7, a police patrol team accosted a red Mitsubitshi car around Sekona junction in Osun state.

After the driver of the vehicle refused to stop on the order of the police, the patrol team launched an unsuccessful chase of the car, as per fast and furious.
The driver sharply parked the car and escaped before the police could get to him. Unfortunately, these poor goats were found in the vehicle.

The Osun state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Folasade Odoro has said the goats will be detained until their owners show up.
But what if the owners don’t come back for their goats?

Are they going to rot in their ‘cells’ like the human suspects who have spent endless years in police detention without any hopes of going into trial.
Will they eventually be charged to court?

And if they are charged, do they have rights to a ‘lawyer for goats’? Maybe they’ll be charged for being animals that were jejely going for a quiet evening ride.
Or they may all end up as endless pots of this…

Or this…

They may never grow up to be as flawless as this goat.

We only have three words sha, Goats Lives Matter!
[zkk_poll post=22533 poll=content_block_standard_format_9]

Maryam

March 8, 2016

Gist

Nigerian, Nigerian goats, Nigerian police, prison