BETWEEN LAW AND SURVIVAL by Don Abiodun Odedeyi

At about 10:50am today (23/4/2013), I was around Adekunle Police station when I saw people gathered around something, my journalistic instinct kicked in and I alighted from the bus conveying me to Makoko. On getting to the scene, I saw a young man not more than 25 years old struggling for breath.

A section of the crowd pointed frantically towards Adekunle Police Station and I was able to see, on time, a three-man gang in mufti pushing a motorcycle across the street into the station

On inquiry, I learnt that Ibrahim (AKA Abule) ran into a team  of the Nigerian Police whose mission was confiscating commercial motorcycles.

When nabbed, Ibrahim did not let go of his motorcycle easily which got him kicked and punched. At one point, Ibrahim’s head was slammed to a nearby culvert, he let go on the motorcycle, stopped struggling and then slumped on the road.

Without a second glance, the three-man gang policemen left Ibrahim to his fate, LIVE or DIE.

Vehicles passing by were forced to change their course on approaching Ibrahim’s body. People gathered but seeing the state in which Ibrahim was, no one could muster the heart to help him.

(This is understandable, in a situation whereby something happens to Ibrahim, the Nigerian police are fond of hanging blame on Samaritans rather than doing a thorough investigation of the cause.)

We all stood by, gazing at Ibrahim as he gasps for breath. I head for the station, determined to ‘do something’ but was prevented from gaining entrance when I made known my intention.

On getting to the scene again, well meaning, courageous Nigerians had administered first aid and revived Ibrahim, a timely intervention that saved his life.

I wanted to blame the Nigerian government, the police, like every others gathered around the young man but my mind zoomed back to the Lagos Traffic Law which restricted commercial motorcycle operations yet the fact is that this young man is hustling to make something out for himself and possibly, his family against the backdrop of what has been classified as unlawful by the government.

As I am putting this piece together, the question on the RED LINE between the law and survival is yet to be defined…

• §  Where is the place of the Nigeria Police in enforcing the Lagos Traffic Law?

• §  Where will they turn to now that over 50,000 commercial motorcycle riders are suddenly without means of livelihood?

• §  Is RULE OF ENGAGEMENT applicable to policemen?

• §  When are we, citizens, going to take cognizance of Laws? How good are we going to educate ourselves?
• What is the place of First Aid in the event of emergency?

I visited Ibrahim at 23 Abeokuta street, Ebute Metta, this evening. His health is improving though unable to move from his bed or respond well to my questions.