“If I come out from station, I go change am for you ooo. Na Nigeria we dey, I go serve one year, I go come back, I know wetin I go do you and your family. No worry, my men go come for me, them go release me, you go see am”.
A criminal suspect arrested by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force has been caught in a viral video threatening to hunt down one of the police officers and his family when he regains his freedom.
A video of the suspect threatening the policeman has gone viral. In the video, he is seen being handcuffed to a police vehicle while the police officer stands at the back of the vehicle.
The suspect threatened to go after the policeman and his family when released from police custody.
Meanwhile, the names of the suspect, the policeman and the place where the incident took place could not be immediately verified.
It was also observed in the video that about four other officers who sat in the front of the police vehicle did not intervene when the suspect threatened the policeman.
Speaking in Pidgin English, the suspect said, “If I come out from station, I go change am for you ooo. Na Nigeria we dey, I go serve one year, I go come back, I know wetin I go do you and your family. No worry, my men go come for me, them go release me, you go see am (If I return from police custody, I will find you. This is Nigeria; I will be held for one year and I will come back for you. I know what I’ll do to you and your family. Don’t worry; my men will come for me and secure my release, you will see).”
But the policeman quickly replied saying, “As you dey run, naso police go dey follow you. You no go come back, if you do, know say I no be police officer, I go dey check you every morning (The police will be right behind you wherever you go. You won’t come back and if you, know that I’m not a police office. I will check on you every morning).”
When contacted for comments on the suspect’s threats and the safety of the policeman involved, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the suspect’s threat is an eye-opener and an urgent call that more work should be done on Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
Adejobi said he had yet to ascertain the offence committed by the suspect to be able to determine his possible punishment.
He, however, added that contrary to the view of many people that the police release criminal suspects anyhow, every crime has its constitutional punishment and if the suspect’s crime is bailable, he will be released after serving his jail term or if granted bail.
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According to him, the threat made by the suspect is one among hundreds of such that Nigerian police officers and other security agents face daily, hence, the police and its sister security agencies need more protection and support for safety.
The Force spokesperson said, “I don’t know the offence the suspect has committed. Offences are defined under our laws and punishments are awarded accordingly. It is not a matter of sentiment or nepotism or favouritism. It is a matter of law.
“If I had known the offence the suspect had committed, I would have known how to say the possible punishment.
“But I think such a video is an eye-opener to all of us in Nigeria, that we need to work more on our criminal justice system. If a suspect is saying I will go and come back, fine, I don’t know.
“If it is a bailable offence, he will be released on bail. If it is an offence that does not carry the death penalty, definitely he is going to serve his jail term and come back.
“But it is an eye-opener to all of us including the police that when you have a suspect and you are working on a suspect, you must make sure you do a thorough investigation to have credible evidence to prosecute and get conviction.”
Speaking further, Adejobi said, “I saw the video recently and I forwarded it on our platform to even know where the incident occurred so that I can get more information about it.
“But for us in the police and all of us concerned with the criminal justice system, we know the criminal justice system is a system that comprises almost eight actors – the complainant, the witness, the police, the bar, the bench, the ministry of justice and the correctional service.
“Every segment of the system is key and has a vital role to play, and we must work together because they are interconnected. But if one of them is faulty, it will affect the whole system.
“It is a call on all of us that if a suspect arrested by police can issue threats in this manner, we need to be serious about our criminal justice system in the country.
“But I think the policeman never bolts out. He told him that whatever it is, he will go to court. So, it is not a threat to us in any way, but to me, it is more of an eye-opener and a catalyst for us to do the right thing and be more serious about our police officers, as law enforcement agents, as ministries, as departments, as agencies and institutions. We need to be serious about it.”
When asked if the safety of the policeman involved in the video is guaranteed, Adejobi said, “We face this on a daily basis. It is because this one came to the news and it is the video that went viral, that is why people know.
“So, we deserve more protection. We have the will of the government, we have the political will, and citizens’ support to protect our law enforcement agents. It is not only the police. If he (the suspect) can do it to a policeman that is armed, what do you think he will do to road safety officers and VIO officers that are not armed?”
Source: Sahara Reporters
