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Amnesty International exposed the shocking level of unlawful police killings in Nigeria in a new report released on Wednesday.

I am not surprised at the findings of Amnesty International about Nigeria Police Force having witnessed and experienced their barbaric acts in 1999 while i was on holiday in Nigeria.

I was arrested at Sabo Area in Ibadan where i went to exchange money at about 11.00 am on this faithful day. I was arrested and taken to Iyaganku Central Police Station and was detained. All efforts made to contact my family proved abortive. What i witnessed at the at the police station was shocking. The police station was like market place where buying and selling was taking place. Money exchanged hands in thousand and people were released after payment of ransoms demanded by the police. The earlier you pay the money the early your release. I was eventuially bailed after paying a civilian working at the station as a cleaners to go and inform my family about my arrest. I paid certain amount for bail before i was released and warned not to say anything about my arrest.

I refused to pay the police after that night having lived and worked in United Kingdom. About twenty to thirty of us were detained in a single cell. I deliberately refused to pay the money demanded by the police in order to see more of the way police in Nigeria operate. It was shocking experience that i did not wish for my worst enemy, i saw hell on earth in my own country.

I wanted to sue Oyo State Commissioner of Police and co joined the Inspector General of Police in Nigeria then but i didn't go ahead with this case because Nigeria judicial system was rotten to his foundation. Don't get me wrong, some Nigerian Judges are fearless and God fearing but they are few.

Having lived and worked in Jamaica and travelled in Europe i think Nigeria Police Force is one of the most barbaric police force in the world. After the incident, i was afraid to get into any arguement with any Nigeria police officer whenever i am on holiday in Nigeria. I warned my son on holiday in Nigeria this year never to enter into arguement with any Nigeria police. History is littered with Nigerians who have been killed by Nigerian police force. Dele Udo was shot and killed by a Nigerian police and heaven did not fall because of that. Kunle Adepeju was kiilled by police in the 70s during student demonstration and nothing happened to the police who killed him.

I am a nurse by profession but i decided to study law in United Kingdom after this incident; the truth i found while studying law made me to be ashamed of my country Police Force. Nigerian Police Force is not operating within any known International law recognised anywhere in the world. Whenever i see a British Police around in UK i feel safe despite the racism going on in UK and mistrust of the police by the black people and minority group.

Nigeria Police Force needs total overhauling and the earlier this is done the better for the nation. Extra judicial killings by Nigerian Police Force is very unfortunate for the nation. The Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Nigeria was killed and the killers are now on the corridors of power in the same country, what is the fate of the common men in the street. Don't argue with Nigerian police if you are on holiday in Nigeria, it is not good for your health and safety. The draconian law under which the Police Force is operating should be abolished with immediate effect.

allAfrica.com: Comments

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First of all, thank you for sharing here your story. I don't think I would still want to have a holiday in Nigeria even if I just need to not argue with any police that I bump in to. There are many good places in Nigeria but with its infamous reputation for poor judicial system, I wouldn't want to take the risk.

That was a good sharing post. I sympathize with you about the seeming death of civil liberty because of the lawlessness of those people tasked to enforce the law. It is a dreadful situation, and like nakchura, makes me apprehensive to set foot in Nigeria.