So far I've had two experiences with the Lagos cops and each was worse than the other.
1) Nkuru, the head of HR at the company I'm interning at takes us out for lunch (more specifically she takes us to The Place (the same lunch spot)) everyday. This week as we rounded the Elegushi roundabout a guy comes from behind and crashes into us before driving off nonchalantly. Nkuru chases him down screaming Ideeoot in her awesome Nigerian accent. She finally catches up to him and we realize that he is absolutely hammered and as she screams at him she swerves into another car and crashes into them. Now there's three cars that pull off to the side of the road. The third car takes one quick look at Nkuru and the drunk driver before driving off realizing it's not worth the fight. Nkuru on the other hand is screaming bloody murder at this swaying drunk driver and within minutes the po-po arrive. Guns blazing, tobacco chewing, and belly scratching they provide no input at all. After 10 minutes of ranting and raving in the blazing heat, Nkuru drives off frustrated. The drunk driver stumbles back into his car and swerves away as well. That was the first interaction...
2) On Friday night, on our way back from Rhapsody and Cafe Vanessa, Udhedhe, Nneka, Mike and I jump into a cab to get home. Over the VI - Ikoyi bridge, a cop jumps in front of the cab, takes one look at the "foreigners" in the back seat and decides to have some fun. He starts screaming at the cab driver who is apologetic for no reason and then starts harassing Mike to get out of the car. Six other cops descend while I'm in the backseat telling Udhedhe to call her dad (who happens to be a cop in Port Harcourt) like yesterday! She's screaming at a cop on the other side of the car while telling me it isn't serious yet. A cop keeps screaming at me to get out and Udhedhe keeps screaming at me to stay in. Finally, the cop grabs my arm and yanks me out. I'm guessing it's prettayyy serious... Udhedhe continues to mouth off to the cops who turn their attention from Mike to Udhedhe's outfit. "Doz a woooman dress like theees?" "Apparently they do'" she says defiantly. Luckily they look through the cab, find nothing and let us off.
Those AK47 guns may be overkill, but it's definitely conducive to good behaviour..
1) Nkuru, the head of HR at the company I'm interning at takes us out for lunch (more specifically she takes us to The Place (the same lunch spot)) everyday. This week as we rounded the Elegushi roundabout a guy comes from behind and crashes into us before driving off nonchalantly. Nkuru chases him down screaming Ideeoot in her awesome Nigerian accent. She finally catches up to him and we realize that he is absolutely hammered and as she screams at him she swerves into another car and crashes into them. Now there's three cars that pull off to the side of the road. The third car takes one quick look at Nkuru and the drunk driver before driving off realizing it's not worth the fight. Nkuru on the other hand is screaming bloody murder at this swaying drunk driver and within minutes the po-po arrive. Guns blazing, tobacco chewing, and belly scratching they provide no input at all. After 10 minutes of ranting and raving in the blazing heat, Nkuru drives off frustrated. The drunk driver stumbles back into his car and swerves away as well. That was the first interaction...
2) On Friday night, on our way back from Rhapsody and Cafe Vanessa, Udhedhe, Nneka, Mike and I jump into a cab to get home. Over the VI - Ikoyi bridge, a cop jumps in front of the cab, takes one look at the "foreigners" in the back seat and decides to have some fun. He starts screaming at the cab driver who is apologetic for no reason and then starts harassing Mike to get out of the car. Six other cops descend while I'm in the backseat telling Udhedhe to call her dad (who happens to be a cop in Port Harcourt) like yesterday! She's screaming at a cop on the other side of the car while telling me it isn't serious yet. A cop keeps screaming at me to get out and Udhedhe keeps screaming at me to stay in. Finally, the cop grabs my arm and yanks me out. I'm guessing it's prettayyy serious... Udhedhe continues to mouth off to the cops who turn their attention from Mike to Udhedhe's outfit. "Doz a woooman dress like theees?" "Apparently they do'" she says defiantly. Luckily they look through the cab, find nothing and let us off.
Those AK47 guns may be overkill, but it's definitely conducive to good behaviour..
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