Memoirs of a Cab Guy: When Police Became the Fear

By Ghanaman

I wasn’t finding things easy on Thursday night. As I come out, traffic choke everywhere. Even for GRA, all the major junctions within were very difficult to navigate through.

I lost two hours of work time just idling around, gisting with a few other guys that are not used to driving under such conditions too.

I found myself trying to make up for lost time when I resumed. But by then, activities had slowed down a bit. So, I don already tell myself sey it’ll be an early night for me.

By midnight, I knew it was time. I just say make I still dey around small, dey gist with the few guys at Genesis Center in GRA.

Someone booked, told me he and his guy were at the Hypercity Supermarket on Tombia Road, with Alakahia as their destination. After talking, I drove to pick them up. And so, the journey started.

The two boys begged me to avoid anywhere police dey. When I asked why, that’s when they narrated their ordeal at the hands of Nigeria’s foremost security agents.

They both came out of their lodge at First Mechanic, Alakahia, to get food and drinks because their babes dey around. Just along the road, the policemen in a parked Sienna vehicle flagged down their okada, brought them down and started searching them.

They found nothing other than packs of condoms and Viagra pills. The policemen have found their smoking gun. That’s how they were violently pushed into the vehicle, with accompanying slaps to humble their tame resistance.

Then they drove off, with two other victims in the vehicle as well. The threats started, of how they’ll take them to NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) for possession of illicit drugs, then to EFCC for being fraudsters.

The boys tried unsuccessfully to explain that they were both medical students of the University of Port Harcourt and to debunk the claims that Viagra was illegal. All their explanations fell on deaf ears. Na more slaps and boots to their bodies the explanation dey bring.

Guns were cocked and shoved in their faces as they faced the Airport Road, telling them that they were on their way to a detention center at Isiokpo where victims rarely survive the harsh conditions there.

Filled with fear and uncertainty, the boys resorted to negotiations, with the policemen starting the bidding process at One Million Naira.

After some cries and begging back and forth, the sum of four hundred thousand (200k each) was arrived upon. Money was transferred to a POS agent (the account name they showed me). That was when they were taken back into town and dropped at the point I picked them up from.

That wasn’t an experience anyone should be made to go through.

Their story brought to mind a similar incident that had occurred sometime last year too with a client of mine. We were stopped, I think, along NTA Road.

The girl was made to come down for a search, while I remained in the car. As na woman na, I think sey na wetin go just be sharp sharp. So, I kept jamming my music while the car was still on.

Then I overheard a small argument behind me and stepped out of the vehicle to find out what the whole commotion was all about. The policemen were trying to drag the girl into their van because she was in possession of a dildo and vibrator.

I was livid that night. I brought out my Press ID Card, identified myself properly and called their bluff. Why are you arresting her because of those items.

I threatened to escalate the issue to higher ups if they insisted on going down this path. Luckily, we both left the scene in one piece. Imagine if the girl had no one to speak up for her. She would have probably gone through something similar like the boys I just dropped at Alakahia Junction.

The policemen that are tasked to SERVE and PROTECT us don ‘open office’ for our heads instead.