The leader of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom, UK, Kemi Badenoch, has taken a new swipe at Nigeria after accusing its police officers of robbing her brother of his personal belongings.
Badenoch recently exchanged words with Vice President Kashim Shettima after he slammed her for degrading Nigeria in her recent interviews with British media.
Responding through her spokesperson, Badenoch noted that she identifies less with the country and added that it is not her duty to protect the country’s image.
Speaking in a recent interview with a UK journalist, Badenoch described Nigeria as “a poor country”, alleging that the Police use guns to intimidate and steal from the people.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). 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 shoe and his watch.
“It’s an impoverished country. People do all sorts of things. So, giving people a gun is just a license to intimidate. But that’s not just the problem.
She, however, affirmed her confidence in the UK Police, describing it as more cordial and reassuring.
“That is not the bar we should use for the British Police. When I was burgled, for example, the police were there. They were helpful before they eventually caught the person. This was in 2004, that was 20 years ago.
“They eventually caught the person; in 2024. You see, 20 years ago, the police did catch the criminals and now we’ve given them too much to do, in my view,” she said
However, the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Zyad Ibn Isah, has hit back at Kemi Badenoch for accusing the Nigerian Police Force of theft and robbery
In a post on social media, Isah, who is media aide to the chairman, Police Service Commission, said while Nigerian Police Force was far from being perfect, reforms such as the ones introduced in Britain could bring about change.
“I would recommend David Rose’s “In the Name of the Law” to Kemi Badenoch. The truth is, the London Metropolitan Police was a mess in the 1960s, 1970s, and even the 1980s. It was through various reforms and even a change of name that they became what they are today.
“If the questioner had asked a British citizen in the 1960s or 1970s whether they trusted the British police, I doubt they would have said yes. The situation was that bad.
“Nigeria and its police force are not perfect—we know that. But we will rise from the ashes, just like the UK and its police force. Aunty Kemi should enjoy her new pastime of denigrating her fatherland while it lasts,” Isah said.
WATCH VIDEO HERE
