should like to thank every one who has corresponded with me since the time the story of my encounter with some Nigerian Police was published in the 'Nigeriaworld'. I am glad that the purpose for writing the story has been largely successful.
- It will prepare and guide fellow Nigerians who may be planning a visit home in future for such attack, particularly how to beat the rogues in the Police uniform and other Law Enforcing Agents, who are paid to protect us but instead rob us.
- All the people who wrote me though sympathized with me, they were more sorry for the decay of moral values at home. It has afforded us the knowledge of the enomoursity of the decadence at home and the spirit of mammon that has overtaken it.
Rather than intimidating us however, I believe it should strengthen us to intensify our different contributions to correct the situation in order that we may have a country that we can be proud of. We can't afford to feel unconcerned or indifferent.
Just this morning I received a letter from the African Heritage Radio (A.H.R) inviting me to share my experience in a life broadcast at a specified time in the very near future. I will be glad to do. I have in the past recognized and paid tribute to different people and different groups for their efforts in trying to rectify the ills of the country. It is my ardent prayers and hope that we shall succeed.
The first person to appreciate the kindness of God on me after reading my story was Dr. Steve Nwabuzor who referred me to a story carried by "The Nation" on July 23. Armed robbers in the Police Uniform stopped an Ile-Ife prince just as I was. His, sadly ended in tragedy. Other people told his story in his absence.
2. Rev. Dr. David Alao wrote from Nigeria and it reads thus:
That article is quite revealing. As long as it is, I gulped it once and have sent it to our children in the USA.
3. It was nothing but God's benevolence that spared the life of Bosheyi Ajuwon and her co-travellers. The story makes me shiver and makes my reported ordeal, a child's play. I post the story below.
Hi
I read your story and i wanted to share my experience with you.
I live in the Uk with my family, wife and one son.
I try to go home at least twice a year and every time i go there is always something new with the police
The most inexplicable one happened on the 23 June 2007.
As i hate to fly locally in Nigeria due to the low safety air issue with the local flight operators, i decided to go between Abuja and Ibadan by road, it almost cost me my life.
The police were robbing travellers.!!!!!!!!.
The road block was police alright in a police van and uniform, they were standing round their van smoking and less than 150 feet away armed robbers were dealing with a luxurious bus used to block the road and every vehicle stopped, robbed and passenger beaten if you don't have money.
My driver been strong headed sped past the police right onto the armed robbers and he managed to do a 360" turn, we were now trapped between police and armed robbers. The strange thing was that the police who were relax and smoking two seconds ago now woke up and started shooting at us.
We were been shot at from behind by the robbers and from afront by the police.
My vehicle got hit by bullet severally but we managed to escape to about 2miles from the place and everyone jumped out of the vehicle and scamble into the bush. We were able to stop oncoming cars from falling into the trap.
Less than five minutes later a scrap-yard bound unmarked car came out of a back bush road from nowhere and guess who were inside....? Police of course, the surreal that they came out slowly to test water by sayinmg ' we heard theres is a robbery going on here?'
Where did th come from? and who told them there was robbery going on and why not go there directly and where does the back road lead to or from?
They (police) drove towards where the robbers were and we waited for 45 minutes and no gunshot or anything, the next thing we saw was a bus with one person at the wheel yelling to us and saying the robbers are gone. Little did we know it was another ploy to get people into their trap again.
My driver again was the hothead who led the pack....surprise surprise, the robbers and police were at the police van and the rickety car sharing the loot....they turned around and rain another bust of gun shots at us.
I have got pictures to show for it...so believe the Fela song that says 'police and thieves they are the same'
The game plan was that the police were doing two things for the robbers,
(a)The sight of the police automatically slows down the traffic for the robbers just ahead.
(b)They serve as look out for the thieves.
(3)They cover for the thieves to get away.
My car was shot 5 times and one of the bullet was stopped by the car's body frame or i would not be here at the computer because if one looks at the
tragetory it was heading straight for me.
Lets just thank god for little mercy.
Regards
4. Another reader from Austria wrote the following:
I read with dismay your horrible encounter with the Nigerian police. Dear Sam, Nigeria is a failed state, the best you can do for yourself is live your life and take care of your loved ones. This is a country that refused to show us love and from every indication is not ready to shower love on us. Sometimes I wonder what on earth is wrong with the people of Africa and blacks in particular. One wonders if they are under a curse.
I left Nigeria two decades ago and have visited the country five times in twenty years. Things are out of hand down there. There is no one you can do things and return home with a smile. Most Nigerians are corrupt, the ones that play clean are those that never had a chance to steal, dupe or do harm. I was born and raised without benefiting anything good from that damned country. I am proud to be an Austrian citizen, This is a country that made me a man. My five children were all born here in Vienna, and are well taken care of by Austrian government.
Tell me what did Nigeria did for us? Nothing. The leaders are bunch of criminals, they have no love for anybody. Please next time you want to write do not forget to remind us on the need for us to love ourselves. Love is very important in life. My bible tells me that love conquereth all things. If only Nigeria can show her citizens love, God will then answer her prayers.
Here in Austria we are paid for not being employed, our children are paid every month, women are paid for three years long for giving birth to a baby. We are paid house allowance, etc. This is love. That is why European countries keep prospering because blessed is the hand that giveth.
May God bless all of us.
James.
I replied James immediately I got his letter and I find it important to post it here in part in order to encourage other Nigerians who have felt disfranchised, dissatisfied and cheated by the way the country has dealt with them.
Brother
Thanks for your instructive letter. I sobbed inside me reading through your letter, imagining how our own country has failed you when I compare it with your experience in Austria and how the criminals, we call leaders in Nigeria convert the public treasury to their personal use.
I believe however that the situation is not beyond remedy. With God all things are possible. It is a spiritual problem that needs a spiritual solution. Please glance through all my previous articles and those yet to be published. ----Let us adapt the wisdom of pa Chinua Achebe who one time said that he has no other country to call his own other than Nigeria in spite the fact that we may have dual citizenship. Read my series of "Daniel in Diaspora" again.
The key solution to our problem is what you have highlighted in your letter "Love" Your admonition is well noted. God bless you and your family.
Sam Aweda.
5. A reader simply by the name Olufunke wrote the following:
Sam how very sad to encounter such barbaric experiences in the hands of those that are paid to protect the public o That is why many of us reside abroado It is heart wrenching to suffer unnecessarily in the hands of your very owno I was disgusted when my young ED whose father worked in Nigeria during the colonial days declared Nigeria the last place on earth that she would visit due to these horrific happeningo God bless you and your familyoI pray God to deliver Nigeriao AmenoOlufunke
I also replied Funke immediately and I am posting it below for the sake of those who are as scared like her young ED.
Funke,
Thanks for your letter and concern over my recent ordeal with the Nigerian Police. I plead that we do not be scared from Nigeria by these incidences. Each country has its stories of woes but this does not infer that we would not do something about it. The case is not beyond remedy and that is all the effort I am making and equally sensitizing those who address large congregations of Nigerians on Fridays and Sundays to do, to encourage the masses to abandon evil behaviours. As the adage goes" the only way for evil to thrive is for good people to fold their hands and do nothing"
Sam Aweda
6. Another reader writes:
Dear Pastor,
I thank God for delivering you and your family from the hand of Nigeria Police who are nothing but armed robbers in police uniform. What the policemen manifested during your ordeal in their hand can be likened to what the whole masses of Nigerians have been experiencing in the hand of robbers of our time that parade themselves as leaders.
But one thing I know that is sure is that their time will soon be up and they will pay for all their wickedness. The generation of sowers will soon arrive the stage and every weeds sowed previously by the enemy the father of all lies shall be uprooted and cast into hellfire.
Our God, the God of Truth and Light will continue to be with you and your family.
Thanks,
Yusuff
I thank God for the faith of Yusuff because it mixes with mine as regards my expectation for Nigeria. I replied Yusuff immediately as posted below:
Thanks for your letter brother and concern over my recent ordeal in the hands of the Nigerian Police. I have received many letters from readers but yours is unique with your confession and prophecy of faith for a turn-around from evil practices that meanwhile pervade Nigeria's atmosphere. It is a spiritual problem that requires a spiritual solution. Unfortunately, the big pulpits in Nigeria do not see it that way. My God, in His infinite mercy will turn things around according to your prophecy and faith.
God bless you.
Starting next week God willing, we should start to examine what is wrong in a Nation that is so religious, yet does not reflect in the moral behaviour of the people. My searchlight will beam on my own constituency, which is the Church.
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