A Nigerian woman has left the internet stunned after sharing the shocking story of how her 15-year-old son was kidnapped by the police and taken to the Anti-Cultism Unit, simply for delivering food to a customer.
In a lengthy post shared on the popular social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the woman recounted the harrowing incident that took place a few years ago, detailing how her son was wrongfully detained by the police for no apparent reason other than his appearance. The woman expressed her disbelief and pain as she relived the traumatic experience that altered her family’s life forever.
She explained that her son, who had just completed his WAEC exams, was helping with a food delivery when the police suddenly abducted him. He had no prior history with law enforcement, and the delivery was part of his assistance to his parents’ business, which involved providing food to customers. The woman described how the police confiscated his phone, before taking him to the Anti-Cultism Unit in Gbagada, without any explanation to her or her husband.
At the time of the incident, the woman and her husband were frantic as they searched all over Victoria Island, completely unaware of their son’s whereabouts. It wasn’t until they received a call from their son, his voice filled with fear, that they realized he had been taken far away. Her heart sank as she heard her son’s terrified voice over the phone, knowing that something was terribly wrong.
“My husband and I, along with our lawyer, rushed to the station,” the woman recalled. “When we arrived, they took our phones. And then I saw my son—half-naked and sitting on the ground with over 100 others outside the station. I collapsed in tears.” She vividly described the emotional moment she laid eyes on her son, surrounded by other individuals in a humiliating and distressing situation. The trauma of seeing her son in such a condition was overwhelming, especially as she was already seven months pregnant at the time.
The woman’s husband, a British citizen, confronted the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) at the station, demanding an explanation for why their son had been detained. To their horror, the DPO’s response was chilling: “Because he dyed his hair.” There was no further explanation given, and the family was left stunned by the absurdity of the situation. There was no legitimate reason for the police to detain a minor for such a trivial matter as hair dye.
After enduring this heart-wrenching ordeal, the family was forced to pay for their son’s release. The woman expressed her anger and frustration at having to pay for their son’s freedom when no crime had been committed. The traumatic experience marked a turning point for the family, as it shattered their sense of safety and trust in the system that was meant to protect them.
The emotional toll of the incident took a severe toll on the woman’s health, and she went into premature labor, leading to an emergency C-section. The stress and anxiety caused by the ordeal contributed to the premature birth of her child, further compounding the family’s trauma. “My son’s only ‘crime’ was being a hardworking boy, helping with his parents’ legitimate business—a business that provided employment for Nigerians,” she said, reflecting on the injustice her family faced. “For my husband, a white British man, to witness such injustice firsthand was a harrowing experience.”
As the post went viral, concerned individuals flooded the comment section, sharing their thoughts and opinions on the disturbing incident. Many expressed outrage over the treatment of the young boy and the unjustifiable actions of the police. The post sparked an important conversation about police brutality, profiling, and the need for reform within the Nigerian police system. The woman’s courage to speak out about her family’s ordeal was praised by many, as they recognized the importance of addressing systemic issues within law enforcement.
See some reactions below:
@DrMel_: “Even with your lawyer present, still having to pay to get him out when he committed no crime tells you how bad the system has gotten. Gfb🤦🏾♂️.”
@Jaziroh118: “This is very serious. I remember in 2012 at billing way Oregun near Christ embassy LCC4, on my way home from site, the police men were around with their vehicle, suddenly , I just had the voice ” stop there if you move I will shot you” I freeze immediately.”
@shanwatche: “God bless you for speaking out. Nigeria system must change for us to be proud of calling it our country.”
@Emetosamuel62: “Just imagine the response a DPO gave, how do you explain to a sane person that a DPO detained a minor for dying his hair. Madam Kemi and other Nigerians with similar ordeal will narrate this and yet you’ll hear people saying it’s denigration.”
@mayorinfinity: “It’s a really pathetic situation how one can be wrongly profile just because of looks or dyed aired. We refuse to be forced to silence until our narratives begin to change.”
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