Leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch has shared a controversial account of her experience with the Nigerian police, describing it as unforgettable and deeply troubling.
In an interview with The Free Press, Badenoch recounted an incident in which she claims officers of the Nigeria Police Force stole her brother’s watch and shoes.
Badenoch, who was born in Nigeria but moved to the UK at a young age, reflected on the stark contrast between her interactions with law enforcement in both countries.
She explained that her time in Nigeria left her with a lasting negative impression of the police, a sentiment she attributed to the corrupt practices she allegedly encountered.
“Giving people a gun is just a licence to intimidate,” she said, pointing to what she believes is a systemic issue within the Nigerian police force.
Her recollection was specific and personal. Badenoch detailed how, during her time in Nigeria, police officers allegedly robbed her brother of his watch and shoes, an experience that she believes was not isolated but part of a wider problem in a country where theft by authority figures is a common occurrence.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us,” she said, reflecting on the helplessness many Nigerians feel when confronted by officers of the law who, in her view, take advantage of their power for personal gain.
