The UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, recently shared a personal story that brought attention to problems in the Nigerian police force.
She talked about an event in which she said that Nigerian police officers had taken her brother’s watch and shoes in an interview with The Free Press.
She highlighted how she had a really bad experience with the Nigerian police and contrasted it with a positive experience she had with the British police after moving to the UK.
Badenoch said, “The police in Nigeria would rob us… Giving people a gun is just a licence to intimidate,” highlighting the difficulties facing the nation’s law enforcement.
“When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m Black, I say, well… I remember the police stole my brother’s shoes and his watch.”
She did, however, commend the British police for their assistance during her own 2004 break-in, saying, “They were helpful before they eventually caught the person.”
These remarks have sparked discussions concerning Nigeria’s systemic corruption. Vice President Kashim Shettima criticised Badenoch’s comments, saying they damaged Nigeria’s reputation.
He questioned her decision to change her Nigerian name and disparaged her country of origin.
Nigerian politicians and residents have also responded to Badenoch’s remarks. While some see her remarks as unpatriotic, others respect the concerns she brought up.
