Yuppie Police Officers At Checkpoint In East

It was some years ago, actually just before the ENDSARS protest, that I saw some

yuppie-looking police officers for the first time in Nigeria. That was here in Lagos. They were all dressed like American movie gangsters. You know, with earrings, sneakers, some with bleached skin and in mufti. You could only identify them as officers through their guns and official vehicle.

Seeing some yuppie-looking officers at one of the numerous checkpoints in Imo State during the holidays, reminded me of those trendy ones I encountered in front of a police station in Lagos.

However, the difference is that the ones I saw recently, weren’t as sophisticated as those in Lagos. They were looking rugged no doubt but, their outfits were crudely redesigned with dust and their skins beaten mercilessly by the sun; no thanks to the dusty harmattan season.

As a matter of fact, we were not appalled by their mien but their conduct. And that’s the issue!

The traffic that arose from their menace especially at a checkpoint somewhere in Amaifeke, a town in Orlu, Imo State, was longer than a train. And they appeared unconcerned that travellers were being delayed on their journey. Then, I noticed something new. I said new because such show of shame wasn’t on display when we travelled to the East in December 2023.  Somethings happening in Lagos were happening right there. I couldn’t believe it when I saw officers, collecting money from commercial tricycles popularly known as Keke Marwa or Keke NAPEP. Luckily for the officers, the Keke queue as at the point when we got there, was the longest we witnessed during the trip. They cashed out big time! They were even offering change to riders who didn’t have the correct amount, and marking the tricycles with permanent markers to differentiate them from those who hadn’t paid. ‘Is that the reason for checkpoints; to extort transporters?’, I wondered aloud.

The worst is that they were dealing with the riders in full glare. When they got to us and saw it was a private bus filled with eight of my children, they demanded to know where we were coming from and our destination. They then begged for a new year gift. Well, it was an opportunity for us to share tales about how the state of Nigeria’s economy has dug deep into people’s pockets. All through, my children were afraid.

It was after they let us go that they began recalling how in December 2023, some fierce looking military personnel at a checkpoint along Orlu road stopped our vehicle and ordered everyone to alight. No amount of begging worked so even those sleeping had to wake up. We all embarked on compulsory trekking and after walking a distance, the driver was allowed to pick us.

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So, at the Amaifeke checkpoint, I also observed that as some officers were busy collecting money from keke riders, about three officers were seated by the side of the road, enjoying whisky and looking slightly hammered.

It was a period of celebration and no one wanted to be left out.