IN a bid to ascertain how officers in the state command carry out their duties, especially at night, Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disguised as a normal Lagosian and drove around the Ikeja metropolis on Thursday night at about 11pm.
The PPRO took to his Twitter page to share his experience, saying he drove past two checkpoints and his papers weren’t asked for.
Explaining how to relate with Police officers on the road, Hundeyin said, “respect is reciprocal”, adding that people should not be unnecessarily aggressive whenever they come in contact or encounter police on road as he was passed at a checkpoint with courtesy.
Taking to his Twitter, Hundeyin wrote: “I finally carried out my social experiment. I drove around Ikeja at about 11:50pm, in mufti, in a private car. I passed through two police points. I spent five seconds at the first without a word from the police officer. He simply waved me on.
“I spent thirty seconds at the second. Officer: You be Uber? Me: No. it’s my personal car. Officer: Find me something na. Me: I no get anything. Officer: See as you fine. Find me something na. Me: (silence). Officer: Oya, dey go.”
“On both occasions, immediately I was flagged down, I switched on the cabin light and wound down the glass on my side. I greeted first. In addition to this, in the second scenario, I smiled and deliberately appeared friendly.
“Note: They did not recognise me; neither did I identify myself. It never got to that. Papers weren’t even asked for. I am positive there are many people with similar experiences out there. Different strokes for different folks, I know,” Hundeyin added.
He continued, “One thing is sure, however. Respect is reciprocal. Appreciate those who stand out there all day and night for lesser pay. Don’t be condescending. Don’t be unnecessarily aggressive. Don’t be docile too. Always be firm with your rights. And don’t resort to taking the laws in your hands.
“There isn’t Utopia anywhere. Report the few bad eggs and we will continue to do internal cleansing. Thought to share my social experiment. Will tinker with the variables next time.”
