A Nigerian man, Tomi Akporoghene Wojuola, has narrated a distressing encounter with officers of the Nigerian Police Force after attempting to save the life of a young man who collapsed on the road in Asaba, Delta State.
He took to his Facebook page to share the distressing encounter.
Man shares encounter with Nigerian Police
According to Wojuola, the incident occurred earlier in the year when he rushed the unconscious man to a hospital after receiving advice from a medical doctor. Despite efforts to get him medical attention, the victim reportedly died on arrival.
Wojuola said he requested that the police be informed, explaining that he did not know the deceased and was only acting as a concerned citizen.
He gets accused of murder
However, upon reporting the case at the GRA Police Station in Asaba, he was allegedly accused of murder, with his statement taken under caution.
He alleged that the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Joseph Udoh, verbally threatened him and stated he would be punished for acting like a saviour, despite confirmation from the deceased’s family that the young man had an underlying medical condition.
The situation reportedly escalated until the intervention of a top government official, whose involvement led to his release and the withdrawal of the murder allegation. Despite this, Wojuola claimed that police officers still collected all the money in his bank account as bail, leaving him with only ₦2,000.
Reflecting on the ordeal, he said the experience helped him understand why many Nigerians choose to record emergencies rather than intervene, out of fear of being criminalised.
As the year drew to a close, Wojuola expressed gratitude for surviving the incident, noting that many others remain in detention over less serious circumstances.
His words read …
“Sometime this year, I made the grievous mistake of rushing a dying young man who had collapsed on the road to the hospital at the instance of a doctor who I had earlier called for advice, even when everybody chose to walk pass.
Unfortunately, upon reaching the hospital, the young man gave up the ghost. Out of protocol, I requested that the police be informed since I never knew the person involved, i was just trying to be a good citizen.
I was taken to incident the case at GRA Police station in Asaba. To tell you how wicked some officers of the Nigerian Police Force could be, I was instead accused of murder with my statement taken under caution. CSP Joseph Udoh, the DPO, told me he must deal with me for acting like ‘Jesus’. Those were his exact words. He bluntly told me that when he is through with me, if I see anybody dying again, I would walk pass, even after the deceased victims family had confirmed that their late son had an underlying condition.
I immediately understood why people make videos in such a situation and do not make an attempt to rescue the victim. It took the grace of God through a very very top government functionary for me to have escaped the murder charge that I was tagged with.
Even after the VVIP personally came to attest and ensure I was released, the Nigerian Police Force, through CSP Joseph Udoh of the Asaba GRA Division still emptied my account as bail money, I went home with only Two thousand Naira.
As the year comes to an end, I am using this opportunity to thank God for bringing me out of tha situation. Many people are still in prison for cases lesser than mine. My people, join me to thank God.”
See post below …
