Shots in the Dark: Today I Remember Victims of Police Brutality
Without Mincing words, a lot is left to be desired in the security architecture of my country. As you are trying to stay safe and away from dangers posed by thugs and bandits, you also pray not to fall into the hands of a police officer who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. These are the bad eggs soiling the names of other upright and hardworking officers. Many are stories of people who had guns pointed in their faces by the same people that swore to protect them, vowing to shoot them and nothing will happen. Many, also, are cases of officers who shot and killed innocent, harmless and unarmed civilians. Where did those cases end? The officer is transferred out of state to avoid the ire of the public. It breaks my heart every time I hear of such cases. Even if one is only harassed by an officer, my heart literally palpitates because I was harassed and shot at once.
Five years ago, we were shot at, I and my friend, Taiwo. It was several weeks after that it occurred to me that I didn’t mark the date, all I remembered was that it happened in January and school was due to resume in a week’s time.
So, I didn’t go home for the Christmas break for some very strange reasons. Taiwo who travelled to Lagos for the holidays resumed early. That day, we went into the school in the evening to charge our gadgets. Lights out was 9pm, so we left for our off-campus lodge immediately after the lights went out.
These are my crew back in the days. Taiwo is the one wearing a green shirt.
On our way out, Taiwo suggested we take an alternative route so he can buy some things. In times past, Medoline street, for that is the name of the alternative route, was notorious for being the haunt of undesirable elements. But who is afraid of bad guys? Definitely not me! Taiwo got what he wanted to buy and we set off. The road we walked on was untarred. Even though it was bordered by shrubs, it was wide. At the junction, where my friend bought stuff, we had seen two policemen talking in low tones and hissing. We greeted them and went our way. We have not walked quite a distance away from them when we heard two shots fired concurrently!
I couldn’t tell whether they shot at us or they shot in the air, all I did was go on my knees and pull Taiwo down with me. I didn’t even turn to look at the policemen. It was Taiwo who told me that they were running towards us. I raised my hands in the air, Taiwo did the same. They came and asked if we were the ones that threw stones at them. With a gun pointed in my face, I asked them if they didn’t see us when we walked past them. How could we have possibly thrown any stone seeing that they see all three roads leading away from that junction from where they stood?
Does this boy look like he can throw a stone at policemen?
Long story short, they let us go after searching our backpacks and phones. Truth is, not many people are as lucky as we were that night. Some have to live with the loss of a loved one to police brutality, others are walking traumas of police brutality, I know that, I panic when I find myself in a dark alley with a police officer. May all the souls lost to police brutality rest in peace. May those who are traumatised by the evil perpetrated by the bad eggs in the police force find healing and comfort.