Situation in Nigeria #3: Police Harassment
So it has now become a norm in this part of the world for police officers to check our phones at their own will, hence you are a young person. That's the only crime you need to commit.
This is pure stealing of money from citizen
Once a young person looks fresh and wears a good cloth or maybe drive a nice car, then automatically, they attribute that person to a fraudster. They would enquire where the person works, what he does for a living and so many other unnecessary questions. Some of them purposefully fail to understand that there is what we call "Remote Job". Sometimes, they go as far as asking you to open your bank app so that they can see your account balance, then if your account balance is high, you will automatically be forced to become their Santa Claus.
They also check your WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media messenger to check your conversations and if they discover a conversation with huge amount of money, then they would have assumed that you are most likely involve in some sort of internet fraudulent act, especially if that conversation between a foreigner (Non African descent).
If you are unfortunate and they found anything related to crypto in your phone, say - exchanger, then you become a suspect and would begin to face threats or pay the huge bribe and go free.
No one talks about the embarrassment and harassment we sometimes get when we refuse them from checking.
Some of them initiate an illegal arrest, the others would ask for bribe, while some will create a scene at the check point.
💥The big question is; is it a right of a police officer to check your phone?
Due to how rampant this practice is going on in the country, I was moved to carryout some research about such situation and one of the reasons I did that was because I have been a victim of this before. Also, since Steem blockchain can also be used for educational purposes, I think it would be a good ground to pass this information and perhaps educate others.
A lot of Nigerian citizen doesn't even know their fundamental human rights and that's why they are intimidated by the police wrongly. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you should be stubborn or fight with the police, but you can come to agreement politely especially when it is your right.
I am not siding any illegal internet business or promoting internet fraud, however, this message is for the innocent ones who have been harass wrongly.
Infact, I had even contacted different lawyers who are my friends to find out the law governing this issue of police harassments in this context.
Well, the law explicitly provides for the right of a person where it involves a police officer at a checkpoint or at any place or point in time.
Chapters 4 under section 37 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended provides for the right to private and family life of every person.
It states that “the privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversation and telegraphic communications is hereby guaranteed and protected"Ref.
This implies that the constant attitude of police officers forcefully threatening our youths and checking their phones is illegal and therefore a breach of fundamental human right of a person.
An exception to this rule is where there is a threat to public safety, public order and public morality where a Judge has issued out a warrant directing a police officer to conduct a search on your phone. This is a different case.
After finding out that you actually have a right and it ought to be protected, what should you do?
Where you're stopped at a checkpoint or at any point in time by a police officer and he demands to check your phone, you can politely decline where you're sure that the officer does not have a warrant to search or you can ask for the officer's ID and probably the reason for the search.
Well, I know, any Nigerian reading this part would just laugh because they know that Nigerian police would be too harsh and even threaten to harm you if you don't co-operate with them(giving them bribe to allow you go).
However, this information should serve as an eye opener and as a back-up to acknowledge your fundamental human right in Nigeria. Report any harassments to the appropriate authorities!
The CRU is available 24/7 to receive and resolve complaints of police misconduct from all parts of Nigeria 🇳🇬.All cases MUST have DATE, TIME and PLACE of occurrence.
Call: 09133333785, 09133333786
SMS/WhatsApp: 08057000003
Twitter: @PoliceNG_CRU
I hope this helps someone out there who has been embarrassed in line with this issue.
Did you missed my previous article on this series...?
You can read it below:
Congratulations!!! because your post has been upvoted by Team 7 using steemcurator09. Keep up the good work and keep making quality posts. Curated By <@ripon0630>
Hi @ripon0630, thank you for the support.