Self-described Afro-sentio artist, Alinko, has described how some policemen arrested him at 2AM while he was on an urgent errand to deliver something for a friend in another end of Lagos.
Describing his unpalatable experience via a series of tweets on his X handle @shinettw_, Alinko narrates:
I’m distraught & still in shock. Stepped out around 2am to drop something for a friend at Orchid road in Lekki, Some “officers” in full black holding guns double crossed my car, ordering me to park & come down.
With no questions asked, they collected my car keys and started pushing me into their small bus (korope) with no plates, took my phone from me instantly while forcing me to wear handcuffs. I kept on asking them one question throughout this ordeal, What is my offense?
They successfully dragged me into the bus after yelling at me & threatening to beat me up & started driving past Lekki, one of their officers drove my car behind & I kept on requesting for my phone to inform my people of my whereabouts; all I was getting was threats & insults.
After about an hour drive, i discovered we were at At a police station at Amuwo-Odofin & I recognized it ASAP because they did this same thing to me in 2020, they beat me up & detained me for no reason back then at this same place. I realized I was reliving my past trauma💔
Eventually, they tried forcing me to write a false statement claiming I was into fraud & I refused, they kept on threatening to beat me up claiming I was being stubborn and I wasn’t released till later in the morning since midnight when my team members tracked me to that place.
For how long will this go on? If not for my management, what happens to other people who have nobody to help them out?These same policemen have been doing this for over 4 years & going scot free, I’m still in shock about my ordeal tonight.
It’s so sad to see the Nigerian police system very messed up.
He was, however, released later.
In response, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “Our investigation reveals that the police officers involved in this incident are from Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.
“For no reason would the Lagos State Command tactical team in Amuwo-Odofin go as far as Lekki, as there is a tactical team dedicated to that area, except on joint operations.
“We have since forwarded our findings and the names of the officers to the Zonal PPRO in Zone 2 for further necessary actions.”
