Paying the police to do their job

Recently I lost my wallet which contained everything, from money to my Permanent Voter’s Card, driver’s license, and bank cards. I had to get an affidavit from the court for N500 and then proceeded to the police station where I was asked to pay N2000 and another N2, 500. How can a citizen lose his […]

Recently I lost my wallet which contained everything, from money to my Permanent Voter’s Card, driver’s license, and bank cards. I had to get an affidavit from the court for N500 and then proceeded to the police station where I was asked to pay N2000 and another N2, 500. How can a citizen lose his hard earned property and have to pay that kind of amount for a police report and help? Is this amount not too high? Are the police there to serve or drain your pocket at such a time? I once escorted a friend who lost his ID card, to a police station in Utako and after attending to him, the officer in charge asked him “to drop something.” It is so sad. 
Ozili Nweachukwu, Abuja.