Published 8th Apr, 2022

By Lolade Olu-Ojegbeje

A Twitter user, simply identified as Grace, has detailed how police officers assaulted and unlawfully arrested her and her and a friend on Wednesday.

In a series of tweets, Grace stated that they were going to get food when some police officers stopped their ride at Ikoyi roundabout, Osbourne Road, Lagos.

The officers interrogated, harassed and arrested them for committing no offence, according to Grace.

Last night I was arrested by Nigerian Police after an unlawful stop & search at an illegal checkpoint. I was detained at Adeniji Central Police Station with no charge

Today I have tried to follow due process by reporting this to the Complaints Response Unit & British Embassy lol pic.twitter.com/fGwtY9K2GK
— gracey mae (@_graceymae) April 7, 2022

“My friend and I were on our way to get food in an Uber, just after 11p.m.,” she wrote. “Police officers stopped us at an illegal checkpoint at Ikoyi roundabout/Osbourne Road and my friend was asked to come down.

“When they searched his bag and found nothing, they began to interrogate him on his what he does for a living. He said he is a talent manager and provided proof. They then asked for his business card. In 2022. Obviously, he didn’t have any.

“The officers saw this resistance and bundled him into a police van, while another one forcefully entered the Uber and intimidated me and the driver.”

Grace also stated that the officers seized her phone and arrested her for refusing to be intimidated.

“I jumped out of the car because I surely wasn’t going to be left with a stranger and a power-hungry officer. I made my way to the police van and quickly took a picture of the van to get the registration.

“They ordered me to get back in the Uber or be arrested. I stayed with my friend and was arrested. The same officer that forced his way into the Uber grabbed my phone, kept it for two hours and forced me to delete the photo.”

The officers took them to Adeniji Central Police Station, Lagos Island, where they were further assaulted.

“Instead of being registered at the front desk, we were forced into a tiny, dark passage which led to a backyard littered with scraps of metal, car parts, broken chairs, mattresses, machetes and canes.

“The Uber driver followed us to make sure we were safe. He was beaten and forced to leave. I quickly told him to keep the meter on and go back to our pick up point and alert the family there,” she wrote.

The officers released Grace and her friend after detaining them for hours.

“After two hours of intimidation and abuse, family and friends arriving and petitioning, calls to those in power and a minimal bribe, we were released. Phones returned. No charges raised. Almost like it never happened,” she wrote.

When she reported to the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU), she was told to go to court.

“They said my English was too much and I should calm down. I was told taking the photo was illegal. I asked for the legislation and the officer laughed. He said since I had so much mouth I should go to court,” said Grace.

FIJ placed several calls to Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), but his line was not reachable. He had also not responded to a text message sent to him at press time.

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