Last Tuesday morning, my colleague’s official mobile phone rang. The information on the screen showed the call was from the owner of the press where we print most of our books. Since we were discussing something very important, my colleague tossed the phone to a junior colleague to pick the call. She stepped out of the office with the phone, but stepped back almost immediately to say it was a distress call.

My colleague tried to speak to the lady at the other end, who obviously could only whisper.

“Where are you,” I heard her ask.

She explained nervously that she was in her house and that she was hiding in the toilet; there were armed robbers in her neighbourhood!

“And what is your house address?”

She gave it in whispers.

Then confusion reigned in my office as everyone tried to offer a suggestion on how to get her the needed help.

“What are Lagos State emergency telephone lines?” my colleague asked me.

I checked through my phonebook but could not find an emergency telephone number. I obviously had never stored any. Then it hit me: the internet would have loads of such information.

A quick internet search showed some numbers, but all attempts to reach anybody through them were fruitless. On a good day, it was unlikely that one could make an emergency call. But now, it had been raining cats and dogs in Lagos and telephone services were anything but reliable.

Then I remembered: my father-in-law is a police officer. At least, he should know the right places to call. I got through to him effortlessly and he asked for some details, which I gladly gave him. I could not but wish that the armed robbers would not have had this lady’s head for breakfast before help would get to her.

Some fifteen minutes later, my father-in-law called me to say that he was right in front of the house with some police formations (I guess from the Force Headquarters) and that nothing was happening there. That was unbelievable! Only a few months ago, I had watched a film on television where armed robbers held a family hostage. Someone secretly made a call to the police and they responded immediately. But the problem was that when the people in the house heard a knock outside, one of the robbers escorted the man of the house to the gate, with a gun to his back, and asked him to tell the police that there was no problem. The man did exactly that and the police apologized for disturbing their peace and left. I definitely could not convince myself that that was not what was going on. Or something close to it!

We called the lady’s mobile line frantically but got no response. After several attempts to reach her, she called us.

“Where are you?” I asked her.

“I am still in the toilet,” she whispered.

“Are the robbers still around?” I asked her.

“Yes,” she responded.

I explained to her that a team of policemen had been there but said that there was nothing going on.

“Can they enter your compound?” I asked.

“No,” she said. “My gates are locked.”

Maybe I should ask my father-in-law to still try to do something, whatever it was, to rescue this lady. I called him but the sound of blaring police sirens drowned our voices. Not wanting to distract them, in case they were in an exchange of fire with the armed robbers, I cut off the line and stopped trying to reach him.

I called the lady after sometime to find out if the nightmare was over. She was still hiding in her toilet and did not want to step out to find out.

“OK, can you call one of your neighbours to find out,” I asked her.

“No,” she said, “They have all gone to work.”

At that point, I knew all we had to do was pray for her. Amazingly, my boss was of the opinion that she was merely overwhelmed with fear because she had an encounter with armed robbers only a few months back. And that turned out to be true. When she summoned the courage to step out of her hiding place about two hours later, she discovered that the noise she heard was not that of gun shots but of exploding car batteries at a nearby battery charger’s shop.

But what really impressed me was the way the police responded to the distress call. I confirmed eventually that eight police formations arrived at the scene about the same time, sealed off the entire area and left only when they ascertained that there was no robbery going on. The lady was to confirm this from her neighbours and people in the neighbourhood.

I was particularly impressed because, only recently, I heard an announcement on radio, as I was driving to work, calling on the police to go to the rescue of the people at one of the banks at the outskirts of Lagos where a robbery incident was going on. By evening, it was reported in the media that several police formations responded to the call, foiled the robbery and arrested some of the robbers. It made me wonder if something about The Nigeria Police is changing. The impression I had before now was that if you ever had the misfortune of calling the police, when there was trouble, they would arrive (when they do at all) only some hours after it had ended.

Well, I also thought I was in trouble for raising a false alarm. But my in-law told me, when I called him to apologize, that there was no need for an apology. He also said I should not blame the lady for raising what turned out to be a false alarm. According to him, the responsibility of members of the public is to report any suspicious movement or sound so that the police can confirm whether or not it is real. As a member of the public, I guess if we can now boldly do that, without any fear of intimidation, then maybe the police is becoming our friend again.         

Robot  Villager

# 1 Last Tuesday morning, my colleague’s officia...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 26.06.2008 07:49

Oru-Ama  Villager

# 2 This is good news-o. Thank God. Before now, when you call the police, they will first of all ask for your name and your house address before telling you there is no fuel in their patrol vehicle. I personally experienced this in Ifako Gbagada where I lived then. The robbers spent more than one hour in my compound, left and our police fiends (sorry friends), came three hours after. Posted by Oru-Ama| 26.06.2008 09:27

Uwaa Sef  Villager

# 3 At that point, I knew all we had to do was pray for her. No, next time, also try to be there (i.e., close enough to keep the house in sight and monitor what's happening). Communicating with the distressed from this viscinity would assure him/her that a trusted person knows what's happening around the house. Also, next time, give the police the caller's phone number, and also give the caller the phone number of the police. On a curious note, would you have just involved the police and stayed back at work if this distress call had been from your loved one - wife, child, mother, father, etc? I am assuming the caller was not your significant other. Nonetheless, that was an interesting and uplifting piece you put up there, and thanks for the good job you did. Later Posted by Uwaa Sef| 26.06.2008 11:11

10Kobo  Villager

# 4 Challenging thoughts my friend. I appreciate you. I guess we need a few more examples of this "Police na ya friend" story before we can begin to shout Eureka since up till early this week, l was still reading of the concurrent and relapsing "Police no be ya friend" stories in virtually all the dailies, with the attendant "accidental discharge" and deaths that follow. On the other hand, if this story heralds a change in the times as regards the police, l guess virtually everyone, including all jobless graduates, will want to enroll in the Police Force, why? Because we Nigerians, we will give them a heavy dose of our love and hospitality. They would experience what it means when a Nigerian says "I love ya" and he really means it! For starters, l will donate my other car to the nearest precinct and they can deploy it anywhere, especially in the crime-prone areas like Mushin, Agege, Bariga, Ketu, e.t.c (the V/I's, Lekki and other high brow areas in Lagos, Abuja, P/H.....seldom experience violent crimes, comparatively and it seems the rich has a way of taking care of themselves, with all their armored cars, doors and toilets!!) I am sure millions of Nigerians with the means will also do better (the Martins Kuye Police equipment fund is a reflection of how serious Nigerian take their security and how far they will contribute towards it). Painters alliance will paint their station and barracks for free, Cobblers will mend their boots for free (or we just issue a new one), Mama-put will regularly declare "Gari & Mixture, with "Showboy", for decoration, all for free to our friend, the Policemen. Never will a Policeman has to suffer accommodation problems, they will be on any Landlords prime tenant list! And my mechanic friend who the Police are always extorting from, using one excuse or the other will "service" officers car for free. I will intentionally stuff a cooler with soft bottled drinks and keep it handy in my car boot. Let me see that Policeman sweating in the sun, at a check point on citizens behalf, without using the nozzle of his gun to shout "park..paaak", at me or forcefully demanding for =N=20 from Bus conductors, l will be too happy to oblige him with a drink after tasting it myself to ensure some chaps dont "put officer to sleep" unknowingly! :D and l will do this everywhere l see a Policeman l am proud of. Okada people will not see you ahead and do U-turn as if Satan himself was holding a scapel in the middle of the road in broad daylight! You wouldn't need to be donning bathroom slippers when on duty, Jeans and T-shirt to match, as if you are one gangster area-boy on official duty. We will kit you, black, blue and sparkling, down to your boots. You will not even need to rent out your uniforms and ammunition to "the other side", nor would you need to betray your informants, to the suspects since you will have no need for the petty-cash they give you moreover, your sense of dignity and responsibility to "we, your friends" will not allow you to do that. And watch the way we shall descend on anybody that dares insult our Policemen or send them on stupid errands as is currently the case. Doctors will oblige you with free, regular medical checks and you wouldn't need "ogogoro or shepee" to boost your confidence before going to arrest a criminal, we will build gyms for you and ensure you go on regular training, foreign and local. That your Oga thats always dipping his foul and filthy hands into your allowance will contend with a 'friendly' judge who will let him spend his retirement in kirikiri! So "Offic-siir", this is your challenge. From I.G to rank and file: challenge Nigerians with your service, dedication, courtesy, dignity and mutual respect and see if we dont surprise you beyond your expectation, so much so you will forget to draw your last salary from the bank instead of complaining and moaning and transferring your aggression and brutality on us. Can you really be our friend? or are you "there" friend? On whose side are you? The citizens or the armed robbers? :( What? Gunshots? make l waka waka from here quick! 10Kobo Posted by 10Kobo| 26.06.2008 12:07

Exxcuzme  Villager

# 5 The police responded because it they know you, i.e son-in-laws plus you will bad mouth dem on NVS if they did not:D If it just an ordinary joe, I wonder if the police would have shown up? Can you find out from your father-in-law what the distress number for the police is as a public announcement service. Posted by Exxcuzme| 26.06.2008 12:54

Dewdrops  Villager

# 6 My prayer is that may God never let me find out! Amen! Posted by Dewdrops| 26.06.2008 12:59

bob  Villager

# 7 had a similar experience a few years ago. while i hid under my bed (of all places) i placed calls to the police. actually a special police unit kept for such purposes by one of the oil companies. they arrived after about 20 minutes. i felt if the robbers had to break through metal barriers they would be just getting through when the neighbourhood was rent with police sirens and lights. creeping out from under my bed, (the police responders asked to see me so they could report my safety), i discovered the alarms were raised after the robbers had finished work in my neighbour's house and left. u can imagine my embarrasment. Posted by bob| 26.06.2008 13:50

TEchi  Villager

# 8 Do you think this could be one of those isolated incidences, a once in a life time Nigeria Police acting efficiently? Caring about the public safety? Exxcuzme may have a point. May be because they know you. But again a while back I heard that the UK Police are supposed to be helping the Nigerian Police be more efficient in their public service. Posted by TEchi| 26.06.2008 19:19

FoxCatcher  Villager

# 9 =10Kobo;4295061152>....I will intentionally stuff a cooler with soft bottled drinks and keep it handy in my car boot. Let me see that Policeman sweating in the sun, at a check point on citizens behalf, without using the nozzle of his gun to shout "park..paaak", at me or forcefully demanding for =N=20 from Bus conductors, l will be too happy to oblige him with a drink after tasting it myself to ensure some chaps dont "put officer to sleep" unknowingly! :D and l will do this everywhere l see a Policeman l am proud of. Okada people will not see you ahead and do U-turn as if Satan himself was holding a scapel in the middle of the road in broad daylight! You wouldn't need to be donning bathroom slippers when on duty, Jeans and T-shirt to match, as if you are one gangster area-boy on official duty. We will kit you, black, blue and sparkling, down to your boots.... 10Kobo @10Kobo Na N100 dem dey kolet from buses now o.... N50 from okada.:D:D Bail nko? Bail na free 4 kalakuta republic... no bi 4 9ja o...:eek::D Last bail I witness for Ifo LGA environs; na N8, 000 ma client pay; and dat after ma friendly intervention. If u insist on 'd law' IPO go just naturally vanish or 'oga' no dey on seat to sign release paper.:biggrin::razz: Still..... hope say change don comu truu truu.:rolleyes::rolleyes: Ciao Posted by FoxCatcher| 27.06.2008 05:52

Ranter  Villager

# 10 As the regular distress numbers did nt work, Can you give all of us your NVS family your father-in-law's number in case we happen to be held hostage. Or can you just tell him that they should fix their existing numbers or make a new easy one like 911 or 999? We can not all be married to police daughters now. Posted by Ranter| 27.06.2008 07:03

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