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Netizens Share Shocking Police Encounters Following Kemi Badenoch’s ‘They’d Rob Us’ Remarks

Published

8 months ago

December 15, 2024

Shortly after British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch shared comments about the Nigerian police on Saturday, netizens began recounting their experiences on Sunday.

Badenoch, who has previously sparked controversy with her remarks about Nigeria, was asked whether she trusted the British police.

In response, Badenoch said, “I do. My experience with the police in Nigeria was very negative, and coming to the UK, my first experience with the police was very positive. The police in Nigeria would rob us.

“I remember the police stealing my brother’s shoes and his watch. It’s a very poor country, so people do all sorts of things.”

Reacting to her comments on the social media platform X, some users shared their personal encounters, although these accounts are yet to be independently verified, The PUNCH compiled the following:

A user identified as Daughter_Of_Richard recounted an incident in 2021 when she and her friends were arrested shortly after celebrating her birthday. She said, “In 2021, I was arrested 10 minutes after my birthday. They picked up my friends and me while we were walking home. There were three of us. They dropped us off and went out to pick up other people. That night, they made about four trips, picking people up to extort bail money.”

Similarly, Tee (@lutosinGBELA) shared a distressing story from 2007. She alleged that was arrested with four others, adding that they were detained by the police in Ikeja, Lagos. According to her, their only offence was parking in front of a bank.

She wrote, “In 2007, five of us were arrested and taken to Ikeja GRA Police Station, where we spent the night simply because we parked in front of GT Bank on Allen Avenue. We were told we had parked there because we were about to rob the bank.

“Only four of us were locked up — one was left out because he looked too corporate. Unbeknownst to us, he was released to find funds for our release. Thanks to an influential friend of ours, who owned the car in the first place, we were eventually freed after his uncle made a phone call.”

UkpemeAbasi Essien (@BlaiseEssien) shared another shocking incident involving police officers in Akwa Ibom State. He narrated how a cultist hired five uniformed officers to assault a school principal over an expulsion.

He wrote, “A cultist went to my brother’s school with five police officers to beat up the principal for an expulsion in Ikono, Akwa Ibom State. N/B: They were in uniform. The man was made to kneel under the sun in front of the school with his phone and other teachers’ phones seized. Fear police ooo!”

Meanwhile, Ibrahim M (@ibrah_shuwa) recounted his ordeal, alleging that he was detained without cause. He said, “The Nigerian police abducted me too. My only ‘crime’ was standing by the roadside around midnight — despite there being no curfew. Even after showing them my NYSC ID card, I was forced to spend an entire day at their station. I genuinely despise them.”

Another user, Precious (@precious_tagy), described being humiliated and threatened for his financial decisions.

He wrote, “The police stopped me and asked why ‘a small boy like me’ would pay 100k for a flight ticket. They slapped me in the face and pointed a gun at me like a criminal. Anywhere people are dragging a police officer, please wake me up. I must be there. Wicked people.”
PUNCH

News

FG Security Agency, Nigerian Army Move To Tackle Illicit Small Arms, Light Weapons

Published

4 hours ago

August 27, 2025

Editor

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), Northeast Zonal Centre, under the Office of the National Security Adviser to the President has partnered with the Nigerian Army to fight the menace of the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in the country.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Brig.-Gen. U.V Unachukwu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Nigerian Army Headquarters in Maiduguri on Wednesday, Maj-:Gen Abubakar Adamu (Rtd), the Northeast Zonal Coordinator, NCCSALW Northeast Zonal Centre, said the collaboration was necessary in mopping up Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Zone.

While stating the negative impact the proliferation of illicit SALW has on peaceful coexistence in the nation and its socio-economic activities, Adamu pledged the Centre’s continuous cooperation with the Division especially in intelligence sharing which he said, was paramount in preventing the proliferation of this SALW in the country.

“One of our responsibilities is to prevent the proliferation of small Arms and Light Weapons and to also enlighten the people. We are a multi agency department and we have the police, the DSS, and also retired military officers as well as serving military officers.

“We have been empowered to receive all illicit small arms and light weapons that have been retrieved from all the agencies and we are the people responsible to destroy them

“We are also the only organization empowered to prosecute gun runners and all the people that have been arrested in terms of dealing with small arms and light weapons.

“What we are doing is to visit major stakeholders and to also share intelligence, information and to collaborate because we know without the armed forces, there is no way we can eradicate the proliferation of small Arms and Light Weapons,” he said.

He further commended the Nigerian Army for always being at the forefront in ensuring that country is safe for all to live in, promising to strengthen the partnership in order to further make the country a better place for all to live.

Responding, Brig.-Gen. U.V Unachukwu promised the Division’s support to the Zonal Centre so as to achieve its mandate while recalling the pass records of the Zonal Director as a result-oriented senior officer.

He also commended the Centre for working hand in hand with all the security agencies, traditional rulers and key stakeholders, adding that this would go a long way in mopping up and tackling the proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the country.

News

Arrears: AAU Management Replies ASUU Over

Published

4 hours ago

August 27, 2025

Editor

The management of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma has responded to a recent publication by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), AAU Chapter, alleging that the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunday Olowo Samuel, claimed to have cleared all staff arrears.

A statement issued by Otunba Mike Aladenika, Principal Assistant Registrar and Head of Information, Protocol, and Public Relations, described the claim by ASUU as far from the truth.

Aladenika said the Acting Vice-Chancellor’s 31-paragraph address to journalists did not state that all outstanding salary arrears had been paid.

He noted that instead, the VC emphasized the administration’s commitment to gradual liquidation of these arrears.

According to the imagemaker of the university, the Vice-Chancellor, in his speech, rather highlighted prompt payment of salaries and pensions as a hallmark of his administration, and noted that the university had implemented the new minimum wage of N70,000 as soon as it was approved.

Aladenika questioned where ASUU got their information from, given the Acting Vice-Chancellor’s clear statements.

“It’s worth noting that when the current administration took over, ASUU members were owed over 35 months in arrears.

“However, the debt has since been reduced as those owed 35 months and above were paid 10 months emblock in the 1st tranch, while in the 2nd tranch, those owe 20-months and above were also paid 10 months salary arrears, emblock. Apart from individuals among them who got paid on personal requests, the payment of the backlogs is still ongoing as various applications on salary arrears are been attended to, demonstrating the management’s commitment to gradual payment.

“On the issue of the 13th month salary, it’s essential to clarify that this has never been a right, but rather a subject of tripartite negotiations between workers, management, and the state government. There has been no prior agreement or understanding on this matter, and it has always been a point of negotiation for our unions.

“It’s worth noting that the university has never paid 13 months’ salary in a 12-month financial year. However, this doesn’t mean that the management is opposed to negotiations on the matter. Rather, we believe that it’s essential to approach such discussions in a constructive manner, rather than using it as a bargaining chip for blackmail.

“The management is open to negotiations, but we urge all parties to engage in good faith and avoid misrepresentations.”

News

US Court Sentences Osun Monarch To Prison Over $4.2m Fraud

Published

5 hours ago

August 27, 2025

Editor

A United States District Court has sentenced the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, to four years and eight months imprisonment over a $4.2million COVID-19 relief fraud scandal.

Justice Christopher Boyko while delivering the sentence on Tuesday, also ordered the monarch to pay $4.2 million in restitution.

According Osun Defender, the monarch was also ordered to pay the sum of $195,000 to the IRS for filing a false tax return.

Justice Boyko also ordered Oloyede to forfeit $96,000 in money seized from his bank account and his home on Foote Road that he bought in 2021 for $130,000.

Boyko said Oloyede was a “very smart guy who did a lot of stupid things.”

Oba Oloyede, a US-based accountant and information system expert, was appointed the new Apetu in July 2019.

The monarch was arrested alongside alongside Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi in early 2024 for their roles in a scheme to fraudulently obtain $4.2m in COVID-19 relief funds.

The two men were charged with 13 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property.