One of the elements that ensures the existence of a society is people, different individuals with unique potentials and talents coming together to form a union. contribution of individual strength makes up a society. Our contributions to the development of the society might not be equal but it doesn't change its purpose. being an umbrella for thousands of people, protecting them against external and internal threat, most especially protecting the weak from the heels of the mighty.
One of the greatest threat to human survival is "humans", the most destructive predators on the planet earth. due to our capabilities and intelligence which has make us reign supreme over every other species on earth but this is not enough because humans greed has no limit. Out of greed most humans go further into terrorising their weak neighbours just to exercise their authority and power. I always thought it is the responsibility of the strong to protect the weak but this is not the case in a human society. the weak are left to perish while the strong rejoices and inherit their belongings.
I grew up in a religious home, we were taught the importance of showing love and kindness towards others, putting ourselves in a position to assist our fellow brothers whenever they are in trouble, "Being our brotherskeeper" just like the holy scripture commanded. I grew up with this mentality as it became the bedrock of my personality formation. I tried as much as possible to put this in practice just like have been taught but it was more difficult than I thought. growing up in a country such as Nigeria, it became obvious to be that if I'm not careful this act of helping others could put be in trouble. I have experience different scenarios when I had to stand up for what I believed in, speak up for those who don't have the courage to speak up for themselves, in school and at work. though the out come was not rosy but it never hindered me from doing the right thing.
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I got involved in an issue recently, I was a little skeptical about getting my self involved because it involves the police, you know how Nigeria police are. I had to get involved because it was the right thing to do and also this person that got arrested that got me involved was a church member, a family friend of mine. this person is the kind of person that has gentle and modest personality, the moment Nigeria police notice this such person becomes a prey.
What happened was that, this so called family friend of mine is a driver who works at OWODE, a popular market where car spare parts are sold. he uses his car for some sort of transport business which involves using his car to lift heavy car parts bought by people to their destination. he has been doing fine so far, with the little he earns he used it to support his family but 5 days ago news got to us that he was arrested and accused of being involved in a robbery. it was such a shock knowing the kind of person this man is, I'm not saying it can't happen but it was highly unlikely.
It was already in the evening and the police station he was detained was a little far from my location, so I waited till the next morning before heading to the police station along with some church members including my dad, when we got there he was no longer there, we were told he has transferred to area F police command in Ikeja. without wasting time we got to area f police command in Ikeja, we made enquiries about him and we were asked to sit at the reception while they fetch him from his cell. They fetched him out, when we saw him he was not looking good at all, from the looks of it it seems they have beaten him. I chose to remain calm just to hear his own side of the story.
According to him, he was driving a couple and their belongings to their destination, he was almost there when his passenger asked him to pass a shortcut that lead directly to their destination. since he was in a hurry because it was late in at night already, he listened to the couple's advice and while passing the path they suggested but unfortunately they were attacked by thieves. the thieves had already placed barricades in front of him, he tried to reverse but he couldn't because they barricaded his back tires.
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they sprang out from their hiding, dragging the car steering from him, in the process of the struggle the couple managed to get out and ran away. he was left alone with the thieves, they collected his car key but he quickly removed the car brain box, so they couldn't drive away with his car. when they realise they could not steal because the wiring has been messed with, the thieves opened his car boot and took all the valuables items there. the thieves bounced on him by beating him mercilessly but they were scared away by a siren 🚨 sound.
After a couple of hours he managed to get up and pushed his car to a near by filling station, he couldn't drive because the thieves ran away with his car key. that night around 3:00 pm he managed to find his way to a friend house were he slept over night. the next morning he went to OWODE market to find a way to fix his car, that was when he saw the couples from last night and some police men, they took him into custody and locked him up.
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On getting to the police station that was when he realised it was the couple he drove last night that came to report to the police, claiming he planned the whole robbery with the thieves yesterday night and demand that he provide their stolen belongings.
The thing about Nigerian police is that the first person to get the police station to make a report always has the upper hand because such person would have tipped them already and One of the weirdest thing about Nigerian police is that they have the habit of proclaiming a suspect of a crime guilty and passing judgement before going to court.
Hearing his side of his story I was stunned because there was nothing pointing him as the suspect, I'm not sure they even cared to listen to his side of the story before proclaiming him guilty, I manage to get to the DPO. all I did was ask him a few questions. where the robbery happened was he the one that suggested the path? Why did the couple run away leaving there belongings behind? did the couple expect him to fight against multiple individuals to safeguard their belongings? did you ask him about his side of the story or what happened to his car? the DPO could not answer any of it, he just stood up and threatened to put us in jail if we don't get out of his site.
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That was when I realised they were trying to set up the driver to take the the fall for the stolen items. we got back home and contacted some of our friends in law enforcement including our lawyer, we got their the next day and the driver was released because those we went along with asked them the same question which they don't have answers to. he was bailed without paying a penny, the driver is currently awaiting court trial because the couple refused to withdrew their claim. hopefully when the matter gets to court the truth will be revealed.
That moment I realised if there was no one to stand up for him, he would have been accused of a crime he might not have committed because even if he could speak up for himself those people are not ready to listen. in this era of corruption, what the nation needs are few individuals who are ready to fight against injustice no matter the odds.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled "standing up for others" in hive learners community.
