Police check points
In the past week, I have clocked over 1,000 kilometres by road travelling from Abuja through seven states excluding the FCT. The journey took me through Kogi, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and later Plateau in that order. As a reporter, I was bent on seeing how fast men of the Nigeria Customs Service have […]
In the past week, I have clocked over 1,000 kilometres by road travelling from Abuja through seven states excluding the FCT. The journey took me through Kogi, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and later Plateau in that order. As a reporter, I was bent on seeing how fast men of the Nigeria Customs Service have complied with the order of their new boss to dismantle check-points. Until that order, it was the habit of customs officers to demand for customs papers from tokunbo vehicles even if they are ten years old, and licensed to ply Nigerian roads. They tell you that the same papers that the VIO and FRSC used in registering your vehicle is fake and if you argue with them, you are likely to have your car impounded and subjected to huge fine or confiscation of your vehicle.
This temporary suspension is bound to be a relief for drivers. While the Customs have acceded to their new boss’ order, men of the Nigerian police appear bent on ignoring a similar order. On this trip, I noticed that only one checkpoint still stands between the FCT and Kogi State. Once out of Lokoja, the situation is worse with the increased penchant of the police to make sure that you part with something. They are casually beggarly about it but those who have taken that for granted have tales of woe to tell. If your papers are ‘correct’ you are bound to be asked for police permit before registration. A quarter of vehicles on the road do not have that. Or permit for the front part of your windscreen that is shielded with coated paint – it renders you liable as those who taint their cars. The capacity to turn you into a criminal is endless and it permeates all check-points.
These check-points, mostly mobile are responsible for accidents because they are mounted indiscriminately sometimes at bends and corners. When accidents happen, they do not help, but drive off to report at the next station as if they were just on patrol. I know it because I’ve been a victim. The express road between Ife and Ibadan is less than 60 kilometres with only one check-point. But the return leg on the same road has no fewer than nine check-points. I actually counted. Last week, it was ‘Oga, happy sallah. Your boys are on the road o, anything to help them buy pure water would be appreciated.’ If you say you are not celebrating Sallah, they go ahead to lecture you how lucky you are to be alive. Needless to say that, commercial drivers know what to do and drive past, since usually the checkpoints are located on bad spots of the road where you are forced to snail through.
But as I left Osun through Ondo, Ekiti on the return journey into Kogi, the police are more daring and desperate. Regulars say this is because they are less prone to being supervised. Your papers are never correct here and your precious time could be wasted to teach you a lesson. The check-points are sometimes two for every five kilometre stretch. My last ploy was to ask for directions whenever am stopped but in one instance, it did not work because my wife attempted to buy walnuts from hawkers.
By far the worst situation is the one I encountered within the thorny gullies between Kabba and Obajana. The joint Army/Police patrol would not let me pass except I gave them something. I politely insisted I had no cash on me and even asked my wife to lend me cash to no avail. The officers laughed and told me that they knew the trick. I recalled to their hearing that the only person who had money was my ten-year old son who was sleeping behind the car. They jocularly insisted I woke him up and even told me they would give change. I woke the poor boy up and collected the N100 his grandfather gave him earlier and handed it over to them. They collected the cash with glee and waved me on.
At the railway crossing before Science College Jos, I was asked to open my booth and when the officer, a sergeant touched the spare tyre, he asked me if I was carrying illicit material. I responded that I was a ‘child of God’ and he demanded to see my I.D if I was truly pastor. Perhaps the IG should tell us who benefits from these tolls.