This story opens with the Foundation of Investigative Journalism (FIJ Nigeria), a media organisation that pursues investigative stories such as corrupt activities at Nigeria’s borders, decadence within the police force and negligence of citizen rights.
However, the job often comes with lawsuits and unlawful detentions. The most recent is the recent arrest of FIJ journalist, Daniel Ojukwu.
What’s the backstory?
Daniel Ojukwu, an investigative journalist for FIJ, went missing on May 1, 2024, with his phone switched off. On May 3, FIJ Nigeria discovered him in police custody on May 3, detained over a report he published in November 2023.
Despite meeting bail conditions, the Nigerian Police allegedly refused to release Ojukwu due to an “order from above”. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Nigerian authorities to release Ojukwu and end press intimidation in the country.
He was being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on allegations of violating the Cybercrimes Act. On May 5, Ojukwu was transferred to the National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja from Panti in Lagos.
Why was he really arrested?
Daniel Ojukwu was arrested over a report in which he alleged that Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to Ex-President Buhari on Sustainable Development Goals, diverted ₦147 million (US$106,154) of government money into a restaurant’s bank account. A complaint was filed on behalf of the Ex-President’s SSA by an NGO affiliated with the All Progressive Congress (APC) political party.
Ojukwu’s detention by the Nigerian Police is not the first of its kind. On February 7, police charged reporters, Azeez, Ayatullahi, Taofeek and Damilola, with conspiracy under section 27(1)(b), and cyberstalking under section 24(1)(b), of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act, and defamation under section 393 of the penal code. The most recent case is First News Editor, Segun Olatunji, who recently resigned from his role after his release from police custody on March 28, 2024. His firm claimed that his reports were falsified after his arrest but Segun Olatunji maintains his stand and says that his reports are true.
As Democracy Day draws closer, concerns continue to rise about press freedom in Nigeria.
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What was the Nigerian Police’s response?
Following the protests at Abuja on Thursday, May 9, 2024, by action groups affiliated with press freedom and human rights protection in Nigeria, the FCT Police Commissioner, Ben Igweh, assured that the detained Daniel Ojukwu will soon be released from detention.
This promise was kept on May 10, 2024, when Ojukwu was released.
Daniel Ojukwu and Bukky Shonibare after his release on Friday, May 10, 2024.
The CP also warned journalists to be careful of what they write and say as they would be arrested and prosecuted like normal citizens if found guilty. Although Daniel Ojukwu is now free, many questions linger. Every journalist behind a keyboard may be writing with a new fear.
A few weeks back it was Segun Olatunji, today it’s Daniel Ojukwu. Who’s next?
The Nigerian police force (NPF) has become an integral part of every Nigerian’s life. You see them everyday — in the heat of car traffic, in their patrol cars and at checkpoints. While these uniformed officers represent the law and coordinate arrests of defaulters, not much is known about their administrative structure.
The NPF consists of departments that work together to discharge their duties. This structure is according to sections 214(2)(a) and 215(2) of the constitution which defines how police force authority is layered in ranks and the extent of their power. In these provisions, the NPF has been divided into three different structures:
Command Authority Structure
Administration Structure
Organisation structure
While these three structures are all interconnected, this article primarily focuses on the “Administrative Structure” of the NPF and their duties.
The NPF’s Administrative Structure is made up of 7 Departments (A – G). Each department has a core focus to maintain, and while it might be different, they are all charged with the central duty of upholding Justice and keeping the country safe from all threats.
A Department (Administration)
Here we have the top officials of the rank and file saddled with the core responsibility of supervision and coordination of the police in the discharge of their duties. Officers in this department handle everything from formulating policies, reforms, and procedures to carrying out disciplinary actions against juniors and senior officers in the force. This department also handles convening senior officer’s conferences and preparing annual reports and budgets.
B Department (Operations)
We have the officers in charge of directly handling the security and safety of the lives and properties of the citizens throughout the country. They plan and organise security measures for the larger communities to prevent crime, oversee inter-agency operations, and handle all policy formation on traffic control, terrorism, insurrection, natural disasters, and many other issues that affect the general population.
C Department (Logistics and Supply)
These officers handle the procurement and distribution of clothing and accoutrements such as vehicles, buildings, arms and ammunition, spare parts, and printing equipment. They maintain and distribute all necessary equipment related to the NPF.
D Department (Investigation and Intelligence)
These officers handle all criminal investigations, liaison with Interpol, Forensic investigations, prosecution, and maintenance of all records on policing and enforcing the laws.
E department (Training and Command)
This department is in charge of recruiting and training fresh cadets and other officers in the NPF. They maintain and supervise all police colleges and create policies to standardise the development of staff and equipment of the NPF in line with international standards.
F Department (Research)
This department is charged with researching and developing new and existing policies to ensure the standards of the NPF are up to date. They also handle information and ethics management.
G Department (ICT)
This department handles all the computer-related affairs of the NPF. They see to matters of cyber security and maintain all the sensitive registries and systems of the NPF such as the Biometric Central Motor Registry (BCMR), Automatic Fingerprint Identification System, and Tracking and Intercepting Device Unit.
These are all different systems and registries that are employed across departments within the NPF. They are experts in the ICT field and are essential to the discharge of the NPF Mandate.
These departments are the machines that make the police department work and show that beyond the roadside patrols and highway checks, the Nigerian police force does much more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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Victor is a Nigerian police inspector who’s been in the force for 16 years. For this week’s Navigating Nigeria, he spoke to Citizen about his reasons for joining the police, why he thinks the Nigerian people get the police they deserve, and other policing matters ranging from Seun Kuti to the Police Pension Bill.
Editorial Note: Navigating Nigeria is a platform for Nigerians to passionately discuss the Nigerian experience with little interference from individual opinions. While our editorial standards emphasise the truth and endeavour to fact-check claims and allegations, we are not responsible for allegations made about other people based on half-truths.
What were your motivations for joining the Nigerian police?
I didn’t sit down and decide to join the police. It wasn’t out of free will. I joined out of anxiety for myself and my siblings. It’s needful to add that my father was a police officer. He was retiring from the force, so I had to take up the job to cater for myself because it’d have been difficult for him to provide for my younger siblings and me as a retiree.
I lived a quiet and principled life, thanks to my parents’ upbringing. This has helped me to stay sane in the force.
The truth is that many conditions have pressured some of us into doing not-so-nice things that aren’t worth mentioning. Ultimately, policemen aren’t drafted from space or a foreign country. We’re all a product of Nigerian society, for better or worse.
Care to shed light on this?
The police aren’t the most corrupt institution there is in Nigeria. We’re just closer to the people than other institutions, reinforcing the perception that we’re the worst, and I’d like to clarify this.
If you’re crude to them, don’t take care of them or see to their basic remuneration needs, or if working conditions are not good, they’ll do whatever they can to make things conducive for themselves. The risk involved in policing is high, and we’re endangering ourselves daily without adequate insurance. You meet all of these needs, and you’ll get a civil police. If you don’t, you’ll have a disgruntled and unsatisfied police force that can’t attract the best minds.
I hope Nigerians’ defensive nature can be worked on as we assert our authority when we feel undermined. Things could improve if Nigerians don’t always see us as the enemy.
Addressing these issues will attract people with principles to the force and help sanitise it.
What has your experience with the police force been like so far?
I’m a police inspector and have been in the police force for 16 years. A police officer is a member of society vested with the authority to keep society sane by a set of prescribed rules and regulations put in place by society. A police officer makes sure no one contravenes these laws. If these laws are contravened, the erring person faces the consequences.
Society has to consent to your authority as a police officer before you can police them. Other than that, it’s sheer slavery.
That said, my experience hasn’t been so bad. Besides the impediments I raised earlier, I’ve consistently tried to improve myself. I see some of the pitfalls police officers face when policing the community and learn from them not to replicate them in my life. I want to leave lasting impressions in the minds of the people I meet daily. I’m courteous with people, keeping an open mind, and empathetic in my interactions. This has made me stand out, and overall, the testimonies I’ve received make the experience worthwhile.
This would be a good time to hear your thoughts on the Seun Kuti matter
I think Seun’s reaction was malicious and premeditated. It was a calculated attempt at humiliating the entire Nigeria Police Force. He went on Instagram (IG) to brag that he isn’t like other celebrities who would come on IG to explain being slapped or confronted by the police. He even asked if we knew how many police he’d slapped in the past without consequence.
Overall, the police handled the situation well, as due process was followed after he turned himself in, and eventually, he was bailed. He would have been sorry he slapped an officer in uniform in other, more advanced countries. Somebody got 70 years imprisonment for spitting on a police officer in the USA.
In conclusion, men of the junior ranks, like the policeman involved with Seun, should exercise more restraint, and civilians should loosen up a little more and show some respect for our police force. It’s the only way the experiences between the two can get better.
The passage of the Bill for the Nigeria Police Pension Board is a very laudable and long due. I’m hopeful for the gracious endorsement of the President, and that implementation will be expedited.
I like this development because, consequently, police officers, upon retirement, can access a chunk of, if not all, of their retirement benefit and not the meagre amounts handed to them, which is almost inadequate to do anything meaningful with.
As with the other sister agencies, like the DSS and the military, which were since exempted from the contributory pension scheme, retired police officers would be able to maintain a decent livelihood and also cater for their essential needs, especially their health, as their take-home would remain their basic salaries while they were still serving.
That said, I’d like the government to look at upscaling the remuneration of police officers. As it stands, the risk involved in policing far outweighs the monetary compensation. I’m not implying that there’s a momentary equivalent of staking one’s life daily but as a moral booster. The Nigeria Police has one of the poorest remunerations compared to other African Countries.
There are also other welfare-related matters, such as comprehensive insurance packages for every police officer. The present Inspector General of Police hinted at it, but I’m not sure of the state of the proposal at this time. Housing is another crucial necessity. Most police officers live outside the barracks, largely in shabby and dilapidated states. The aforementioned facilities are the basic requirements that are supposed to be in place for a functional and confident police force and officers, as it were. Again, I’d say that every society gets the police force it deserves. If you compromise their welfare and working conditions, you’ll have a dissatisfied police force.
This week’s subject of Navigating Nigeria is Pelumi who’s struggling to understand why land grabbers, in collusion with the police, demolished and took her community hostage. She told Citizen the injustice her community has suffered and how the Lagos State government and the Nigerian Police have turned a blind eye to their cry for help.
Walk us through your experience
I live with my parents in Age Mowo, Badagry. They acquired two properties in two different parts of the community when they first moved in. Where we live now is about a 20-minute walking distance to the other property which my dad uses for farming and storage. What’s left of the remaining is what he rents out.
The property we live in is currently not affected by any issues, although there was a time the federal government was expanding the road and marked it for demolition. Luckily, the road was fixed and our house wasn’t demolished. Our other piece of land isn’t owned by the government or under any acquisition. My father got it like several others from omo oniles around 2009.
I was in school about four weeks ago when my dad called. He said some thugs came into town and announced they’d acquired a portion of the community where my dad’s second property was located. They said everyone should vacate it and that the order was from above.
Obviously, we were perplexed. Who issued this order? Initially, those affected had a meeting and went to talk with the omo oniles. Did you people resell our lands to these new guys? They said they didn’t. Some weren’t even aware of what was going on.
Apparently, the land grabbers, who came with policemen to pursue us from our lands, had gone to file a case in court without even informing us. This meant at first that we were a no-show in court. But when we found out, we started attending court proceedings after which the land grabbers dropped the suit. They just said they were no longer interested in a court case, that they’d acquired our lands and there was nothing we could do.
Ahhhhhh
While that was happening, my dad and the others reported the matter to Area K Police Command that oversees Badagry and its environs. The police officers said they were aware land grabbers were on our property, but the matter was out of their hands. They said the police officers on our lands were from the Zone 2 Police Command. The officers advised us not to cause trouble.
Ehn?
It’s not like we had a choice anyway. These people brought guns into our community. We made attempts to reach the Zone 2 Command and get in touch with the officers in charge but they weren’t responsive. There were more meetings in the community on plans to take things up in court. But the community is populated by indigenes who aren’t wealthy — just average Nigerians that work menial jobs or sell things. Hiring a lawyer who’s asking for ₦3 million or more is a lot for most of them. Spending that kind of money is a huge expense for many of these people who are also looking for alternative places to live now.
In fact, the first time the community’s lawyer appeared in court, my dad contributed the most that was paid as fees. The issue is also nuanced in that my dad’s residential property isn’t the one affected, just the one that contains his farmland. My dad didn’t want to be at the forefront of the issue because he doesn’t want to be targeted by the land grabbers and be kidnapped. They’ve done that in the past so he had to play it cool to be safe.
Wow. What other steps did you take?
The chairman of our Local Council Development Area (LCDA) who was assisting the people affected wrote a petition to the Lagos State government concerning the land grabbers. It wasn’t even up to 30 minutes after he submitted it that someone somewhere in the state government’s office alerted the land grabbers and told them of the petition.
Damn, that was fast
Next thing, the land grabbers came to the chairman’s house and demolished it. It was really shocking and scary because we sent a petition to the government and somehow the land grabbers knew about it and came to break down the petitioner’s home as a way to intimidate and threaten us.
We went to the police who told us they were aware but asked us to stand down. We went to the government who informed the land grabbers about our move. It’s like there’s an organised ring with some very strong backing. No one wants to come to our aid and there’s no one we can turn to.
The land grabbers even demolished my dad’s fence. He had to try and salvage some things he stored on his land. The funny thing is, if you want to salvage your property, the land grabbers and their louts will tell you to pay some money before you can pick up your things.
Nawa
My community is a small town and almost everyone knows everyone. This is December. With these guys on ground they’ll probably settle down there and the crime rate will increase, or they’ll just keep coming back. The police don’t seem to care and it’s a scary situation right now.
I have cousins, friends and acquaintances who once lived around here and are now currently displaced. I grew up with these people and now they’re living on the streets because somebody somewhere decided one day to go about stealing people’s lands and the government is doing absolutely nothing about it.
That’s serious
At one point, my dad wanted to forfeit the property, but it didn’t sit well with me. It was an injustice, so I said, “Let me bring it to Twitter and see what can be done about it.” I didn’t even tell my dad about it. I also didn’t really think it would go viral but my friends helped with retweets. It was posted on my WhatsApp and sent as a broadcast message to my contacts. My aim was to get the police to comment on it and probably send people there to maintain the peace because the louts are still there, constituting a nuisance and beating people up.
How did the police respond?
Ben Hundeyin, the police spokesperson for Lagos, and Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the head police spokesperson in Abuja, responded to the tweet. Adejobi said it was a civil matter and that the police can’t do anything about it. He asked me to take it to court.
This was surprising to me because I believe the duty of the police is to protect lives and property. I don’t think they need a court order to perform their duties. People are being threatened and beaten up. Even if it’s a civil case, at least the police should come there to restore the peace. Those demolishing property should at least present a warrant. If they don’t have it then they should be stopped until the court decides on the matter.
Why do you think this is happening?
Let me give you a back story. There’s a seaport that’s about to be opened in Badagry. From my house to the seaport is about ₦400, and that’s because of the fuel hike. It used to be around ₦150 to ₦200 before then. Because of the economic value the port will bring when it’s launched, people are trying to steal our lands there. They’ve already made promises on how much they’d share from the proceeds. An Anglican church that bought plots of land in the area is also affected and has taken the matter to court.
I think the excuse of the police is mental, but it’s Nigeria — everyone’s mental. Ben Hundeyin even said I was lying, that I knew that the land grabbing was a government activity.
How did that make you feel?
This is where I live, and the police spokesperson is trying to gaslight me that they aren’t louts. I’m not interested in arguing about semantics here. I asked him, if this is a government operation does the government now operate with louts? Does the government demolish houses without any prior warning or court order?
At least if this was the government’s doing, they’d have put up posters and government officials would have notified us. Nobody came, except for the land grabbers and the police officers that accompanied them. Is this how the government now operates?
When I tagged him to the tweet, he responded about 24 hours later. He perhaps already discussed it with the higher ups before dishing out that layman’s excuse to discredit me. His reasoning had many holes in them which I pointed out to him. Till today, he hasn’t replied.
How do you think this will end?
I had hopes that the police would intervene but seeing their responses offline and online, it’s clear they won’t do anything about it. An NGO reached out about helping but they’ve not said anything since, despite sending them a message. My dad is still hoping we can get justice, but our best hope now is through the media or the court.
The Chinese government has set up “overseas police stations” all over the world to keep track of its citizens, as reported by THISDAY on October 17, 2022.
President Xi Jinping of China [Image source: Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images]
The Chinese Communist Party calls them, “110 Overseas Police Service Centres” to crack down on all kinds of illegal and criminal activities involving Chinese in the diaspora. These stations are run in various parts of Africa, Europe, and America, according to a report by Safeguard Defenders.
In Nigeria, the Fuzhou-Run overseas police “Service Station” is reported to be located in Benin City, Edo State.
How does the station work?
Well, the Chinese are setting up the centers in a bid to combat fraud committed by citizens abroad. Chinese authorities have claimed that from April 2021 to July 2022, 230,000 nationals were “persuaded” to return to China to face criminal proceedings. The “persuasion” happened through harassment and intimidation methods, such as threatening the family members of overseas citizens, according to the report.
According to Safeguard Defenders, “These operations eschew official bilateral police and judicial cooperation and violate the international rule of law, and may violate the territorial integrity of third countries involved in setting up a parallel policing mechanism using illegal methods.”
What will Nigeria do?
The Nigerian government hasn’t reacted to the report yet, but everyone is curious about the next line of action. Will we shut down illegal Chinese operations or allow them to continue the fight against corruption? Are we strong enough to stand up to a country we’re owing over $3.48 billion?
We’re all waiting for Buhari’s move.
Do you sometimes get excited at the sight of mint ₦50 notes? Or do uniforms tickle your fancy?
Our theory is that you miss your past life as a law enforcement officer. Take this quiz and find out the truth.
If you get in trouble often, this quiz will be easy for you.
Can you identify the Nigerian security agencies from their uniforms?
Questions
This is a question
What security agency is this?
What security agency is this?
What security agency is this?
What agency is this?
What security agency is this?
What security agency is this?
What security agency is this?
What security agency is this?
What agency is this?
You got #{score} of #{total} right
Did you even try? Are you even Nigerian?
You got #{score} of #{total} right
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Best in knowledge. You must get in trouble a lot sha, because how do you know all these agencies?
On December 7, 2021, a white delivery truck was reported to have hit school students along the Ojodu Berger axis of Lagos state, allegedly killing over a dozen students and leaving several others injured.
How it happened
The cause of the accident is still being debated. However, several eyewitness reports and a tweet from news coverage and intelligence provider, Eons Intelligence, reveal that the vehicle’s driver lost control of the wheels while being pursued by officers of the Nigerian Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) around Isheri Road, just before the Ojodu Police Station.
The children — all students of Ojodu Grammar School — were reportedly killed by the truck as they made their way home from school after closing hours, at about 3 p.m.
Despite attempts to flee the scene, the truck’s driver was reportedly chased to the Ogba area where he was apprehended and handed over to the police.
Following the tragic killings, students and residents of the area reportedly took to the streets of Ojodu Berger in protest. Causing a gridlock, the upset crowd proceeded to vandalise and burn trucks and other vehicles belonging to the VIO office in the area.
Arrival of the police and sporadic shootings
These police officers are definitely High!!!! These kids at Berger Lagos decided to protest on behalf of their friends and to scare them away these demented and deranged individuals thought it was good to use gun!! Later they will so No o we shout in the air ahhhh God abeg! pic.twitter.com/sFWbRaCGC0
Officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) were eventually dispersed to the scene. After firing canisters of teargas to disperse protesters, police officers were caught on camera shooting repeatedly into a school compound after forcing their way in.
At the moment, it is unclear how many students were killed or how many are currently receiving treatment. While representatives of the Lagos state government and the agencies involved are yet to offer statements regarding the events, residents and commuters around the Ojodu Berger axis continue to report cases of chaos and traffic jams.
We’ll update this article as more information becomes public.
