It’s been a never-ending battle, that Nigerians have had to endure in the hands of corrupt law officials. Police brutality has become a primary issue in the country, as civilians are constantly subject to all forms of harassment and extortion from the Nigerian police.
Luckily, social media has helped combat a number of these issues. Many activists continue to advocate for social justice using their social media platforms as a liaison point.
A prime example would be the debacle that has been unfolding on social media for almost 24 hours now. On 14th of July 2020, a social media influencer with username; @_Valking, put out a tweet, narrating his ordeal at the hands of some police officers in Ogudu area.
He tweeted about how he had been threatened, and how he was forced to make a confession after being beaten. The officers thereafter extorted N260,000 from the young man.
Some members of the Nigerian Police (Ogudu branch), forced a confession, statement and N260,000 out of me yesterday.
They beat, threatened & made me feel completely powerless. I have not recovered from the harassment, but I need this story to be out there
Cc: @segalink
RETWEET— valking ♔ (@_VALKlNG) July 14, 2020
Fortunately, this tweet blew up, and it managed to get to rights activist Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink. who has distinguished himself in tackling social issues and delivering justice to Police victims. And he would do so for this case.
Not long after, Segalink responded to the tweet, assuring the victim that he had taken the case up.
Hi Distinguished. They will be taken up in the few minutes after this tweet. I hope you can recognize them all? #EndImpunity @ElkanaBala @PoliceNG @SIAF_NG https://t.co/7lz72zmT5E
— SEGA L'éveilleur®? (@segalink) July 14, 2020
He later stated that the money would be refunded the next day and the perpetrators tried in court.
Distinguished, by now you should have received calls from supervising officers who will have your refund waiting for you by tomorrow once the rogues have been identified. They will be summarily marched to the Provost Office for Orderly room trial towards the end of their career.
— SEGA L'éveilleur®? (@segalink) July 14, 2020
This elicited a number of responses from Nigerians on Twitter, as they were happy to see Segalink do what he does best.
Sega, if you ever need anything like kidney, I will gladly give you mine. ?
— Unu Amaro Kam Siri Kwado (@AfamDeluxo) July 14, 2020
Sega, I’ll like to deliver the Trophy of Greatness to you 1st thing tomorrow morning.
— One.acre says Free Dadiyata (@NekkaSmith) July 14, 2020
Sega is you if ever come Anambra, Awka precisely. Just chat me up.. I owe you lunch at any restaurant of your choice. God go bless you.
— Igwe Ogbuefi??? (@igweogbuefi) July 14, 2020
Earlier today, Valking, gave an update on how he was called to the station and given back his money.
We’re on our way to meet the Comissioner of Police at ikeja with the policemen involved. pic.twitter.com/PmABPDP835
— valking ♔ (@_VALKlNG) July 15, 2020
Finally going home with my money ? pic.twitter.com/eWQYJcQHnz
— valking ♔ (@_VALKlNG) July 15, 2020
The N260,000 cash produced by the DPO #PoliceBrutality pic.twitter.com/HYSKskmWb0
— Inside Mainland (@InsideMainland) July 15, 2020
But not after the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at the station was listed as an accomplice to the crime, and other similar operations in her district.
The Dpo at Ogudu police station is trying to shield the officers involved from showing their faces. She is actively involved in this crime. The money has been refunded. But we must see those who forcefully took the money. @TosinOlugbenga @_VALKlNG @segalink
— tiredNigerian (@DuruchibuzorE) July 15, 2020
How do u wanna see it ? DPO sends them out to raid, he has an amount to pay ur area commando Monthly, commander has amount he pays the commissioner monthly, commissioner has amount he pays IG. It’s a canal https://t.co/lUI5D3A62R
— Mr O.I LONGE (@TheInfamous__) July 15, 2020
Sir, Hope you know they will make that same amount of mo wey or more than that in less that 3hours on that same ogudu road today.
Their DPO is involved if not they won't have the privilege to go on the street and arrest illegally.— Giwa bashiru (@Giwabashiru) July 15, 2020
Somewhere in between this debacle, people called out the DPO, alleging that he is trying to defend the men who had kidnapped and extorted Valking. They also noted that he has, in corrupt fashion, reassigned the men back to their duties with no repercussion for their action, whatsoever.
The DPO said the criminal @PoliceNG officers are back to work.
Can you imagine? People who kidnapped and extorted a young man of 260k have returned back to work to continue their evil work.
We want to see the officers and put their face here.
This evil must stop. #EndSARS
— Tosin Olugbenga (@TosinOlugbenga) July 15, 2020
The same policemen that stopped me are still at the junction extorting other people, Omo. https://t.co/nVruf60g0E
— valking ♔ (@_VALKlNG) July 15, 2020
For Chinedu Okafor, its all about making an impact with words, creating a profound impression on the audience with the intended narrative.
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