Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, conducted a social experiment by dressing as a civilian and passing through police checkpoints at around 11:50 p.m.
Hundeyin as he was being passed through a checkpoint said he passed through the first and second checkpoints, adding that his “papers weren’t even asked for.”
Hundeyin tried to emphasize the need of treating police officers with respect by saying, “Respect is reciprocal,” and adding that people shouldn’t be overly aggressive.
Late Thursday, Hundeyin recounted his highway encounter with the police on his verified Twitter account, saying that he was asked to give the officers “something.”
He tweeted, “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. 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 law into your own 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.”
He, however, added that this wasn’t to invalidate or trivialise the bad experiences some motorists and commuters had. “Absolutely not,” he emphasised.
Popular ENDSARS activist Rinu Oduala responded to him by claiming that Hundeyin was attempting to prove that police harassment didn’t exist because the PPRO had never personally experienced police brutality.
“You are not a young person struggling to make a living in Nigeria. You are a Police PRO who never experienced brutality in his life but needs to show that police harassment doesn’t exist.
“This planned public relation is failing, Oga Hundeyin. Go and re-strategise,” she replied in a tweet.
