Juliana Francis
A frustrated Nigerian, Mr John, has taken to social media to complain about his experience at the hands of Ugbor Police Station, Edo State Police Command.
Below is his story and his frustration with the criminal justice system as practiced at Ugbor Police Station.
He said: “I feel disturbed to know that a complainant can go through what I and my family have been made to face for the past 12 days.
“I was alerted at about 3:am by a neighbour and the vigilantes that a young man vandalised my Arnold cable in my house.
“After a long debate, I insisted that he must be taken to the police station, and he was taken to Ugbor police station at about 4:45 am with the cable.
“I requested for the release on board of the cable so that we can reconnect to BEDC they refused that the case will be taken to court the next day 13th March 2023.
“On the said day we were asked to make money available to prepare the case file which my representative refused but requested to have the cable because we were now running on a generator.
“After the 6th day without light and the case was not charged to court, they requested N50,000 before they can release the cable to us the victim and we refused to part with money for being good citizens.
“On the day the case was to be taken to court according to them, the case was transferred to SCID as they claimed that it is a case of vandalism which is a federal case and must be treated with the seriousness it deserved as such we cannot get the cable not until after the case has been taken to court.
“I was told that the OC LEGAL insisted that the cable must not be released.
“Victims are now made to suffer more while the suspect is being fed by the government and enjoying light in the cell while we are in darkness.
“Since 12th March till now 23rd March 5:15 pm as am writing the cable has not been released and the suspect has been given bail by the court, but we are made to come to their office from morning till night.
“We were later told that since the cable is a personal one, they cannot use vandalism act to charge him but will be charged for stealing after 11 days.
“He was charged with stealing yesterday and we were asked to come for our cable which has not been released because of reasons best known to them.
“If victims can be made to go through all the pains I and my family have gone through just because we did the right thing by reporting to the police, do you expect us or anyone close to us to report crime tomorrow since this is how victims are treated?
“Even after parting with 10,000 still, the cable is not released because Mr A has signed but Mr B is not on seat.
“The most dangerous and confusing organisation is the police force, I stand to be corrected. If a person of my class can be made to go through this in my own country, I wondered what innocent citizens go through in Nigeria’s police hands.
“It took the OC LEGAL over 12 days to know that he can charge the suspect with stealing not vandalization the detriment of the victims, what a pity.
“The suspect has since gone home Happy while we are still in SCID begging for the cable that was stolen from us.
“The irony of it all is that the police were not the ones that apprehended this criminal but now maltreat the people they are supposed to appreciate.
“I and my Family are in serious pain because we do not know our crime that we are made to go through this inhuman treatment in the hands of the police.
“Crime fight is made difficult by the same people the ought to fight it. It is a pity that it is 5:36pm still waiting for the cable i bought with my money that was stolen.
“Nigerians are going through humiliation in many ways in the hands of police. This is the highest humiliation I have ever experienced in my life on earth.
“That I acted with a good heart, but the police said no, Mr Man you are a fool for report a crime. I demand an apology from the Nigeria police force for this humiliation. We are treated like common criminals. I am waiting patiently to see to the end of this wicked act.”
