Police harassment, crypto misunderstanding and I absolutely hate it here
Yesterday is going down as one of the worst days of my life. The only time I actually ever felt this level of fear was when I thought I was going to get shot back at the University of Benin.
So yesterday on my drive back home, I got stopped by the police. I didn't want to go out but I had to sort out some stuff with my school and so I had to hit the town.
On my way back, I saw a police checkpoint and I'm guessing it's due to the "security" issues in the state. The police officers picked an isolated place and we're randomly harassing people on the street, and I was, unfortunately, one of them.
Now you might be wondering how this is crypto-related right? Well, here's the thing, the idiots claimed crypto is illegal and then took me to their station.
I'm not going to lie, it was a very scary experience, especially for someone like me that's never had any dealings with the police.
The officers, armed with AK47s tool my phone and then started going through my personal shit. The next thing I know, they started talking some random shit about crypto, and by the end of the day, I was being threatened with being locked up in jail until someone comes for "questioning" or some crap.
It's bullshit
I've said it on numerous occasions and I'll say it again, this country is fucked up and there's no hope for it.
I hate to sound like this but it's not easy not to. I absolutely hate it here.
I was taken to a shitty corner in the police station and threatened like I'm a criminal. I showed the police officer my hive profile and everything else but they ignored it and just kept on going about how "crypto is banned".
I explained the initiative and further clarified that crypto isn't banned and stressed that dealing with crypto is not a criminal offense and they replied with threats of tampering with my statement and shit like that.
The police constantly tried to isolate me from everyone else but my wife was always around.
The moral of the story
- First of all, I'm going to get a lawyer on retainer as soon as possible. I'm not going to be anybody's bitch in this country.
- Secondly and most importantly, we have to get the entire fuck out of here. Even if I have a lawyer, I could still be targeted and I know they'll absolutely love to continue harassing me.
At the end of the day, I had to pay money to get out of there. I spent like $200 range to regain my freedom from my captors.
I wasn't arrested or committed any crime but was harassed and detained simply because of a bunch of crypto WhatsApp groups. For most part, I thought I was kidnapped and just wanted to be far away from them.
Stay safe and frosty out there my friends.
PS: The internet is still messed up and it's still a struggle to access hive and all my blockchain stuff.
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Ludicrous things are happening in this country and somehow, someone is expecting me to write about how much I love being independent in a day like this which is supposed to be INDEPENDENT Day.
Well, I had to reschedule my travel plans due to some silly sit-at-home in the same "independent" country and I've also had my fair share of wild encounter with these men in uniform.
I travel a lot so, one of the things I do is to FREEZE all my Crypto related Apps. Leaving here is paramount and should be a priority for alot of reasons. This harassment is one of those reasons
I really hate this place man. It's so horrible
I'm glad you're safe and out of harms way. I would say that I'm glad you're OK, only it's not OK for anyone there from what I gathered from your post.
As insane as it is, what country would be a better place? If it's not crypto, it's politics; if it's not politics, it's religion; and if it's not religion it's medicine. In some way or other, it's messed up no matter where we are.
I don't know what else I can say or suggest, so please accept the only !LUV token I can hand out today. At least you know people care about you.
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This is just bizarre.
How did they even know you have crypto?
And why is this an issue to a beat cop?
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That's just wild man.
Not a way to live...
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Yup. Now you get why I've been going on and on about leaving. It's only a matter of time man, we'll be out of here.
It's crazy, it's not as worse in some suburbs of Lagos but really worse in the urban areas of Lagos, all I try to do is hide anything related to crypto on my phone just in case I was stopped and the police or army tries to check my phone. I've been caught before, but this was in 2018, I had my phone clean from any crypto activity and they had no choice but to release me.
It's the country we're in, no means of survival and yet they're harassing people. Take care of your mental health man, it's going to be good.
Sorry man this shit is messed up.
Sorry bro. Omo good thing your wife was around. Brooo I get a jolt of fear anytime I see those people, and I’m not a criminal nor do I do any illegal activity, it’s very sad. I can’t imagine how you must have felt. Pele
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It was very scary man. I felt so isolated and shit.
Damn. You gotta get out bro
Definitely man.
This happened to me few days ago and I was so upset though mine did not get complicated to the extent of being taken to the police station but this country is a total shit.
In a country whereby it is a crime to look good, all the forces that are suppose to be securing your life are the one after it.
The biggest mistake of this century will be for any young, vibrant and hardworking Nigeria to stay here and belief all will be well without a plan to leave this hell on earth.
Amen to this brother. The whole thing is messed up.
Jebus that sounds like a hard day at the office. How did they know you were into crypto? Did you tell them?
Hope you're alright mate. Take care
I told them because they asked what I do for a living.
You done goofed.
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Next time say you are a professional writer.
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lol funny thing is that's exactly what I said at the beginning of the encounter.
Honestly, the truth is that it doesn't matter what i said at that moment. It was a robbery/kidnapping, rather than anything else.
yeah you gotta love when the cops are the worst criminals.
super cool
Yup. At least when they stop you, you already know you're screwed in the name of the law. The best kind of screwed.
This was my first time anyways, and I've learnt a few things from other people's experiences. I don't think it'll happen again but if it ever does, I'll be prepared.
How on earth did they get inside of your phone? Did they force you to unlock it? Do you not have a passcode? How were they so easily able to figure out you had crypto? I know I’d never tell the police that’s what I’m into... then again my police don’t carry AK’s. Damn this sucks man. I hope you can get out of there to a better place ASAP. Any plans on that?
It was weird and scary man. Felt like I was being kidnapped. They've killed people for less in this country. I just wanted to get away from them, and so I did whatever had to he done. They found nothing illegal because there's nothing illegal. They just wanted to rob me.
We're working our way out right now. On Monday, we're going to start enquiring about ways to migrate with either school or work permit. Either way, we're getting out of here.
I'm done with this shit hole
I’m thankful that you survived that encounter. Sounds like something from a Far Cry game, but you’re really out there living it.
Didn't feel real to me tbh. Just gotta get out of here.
Sorry to hear that, seems like you need to look for some better place. Did you think about some place where the cost of life is not that big like Spain or France or UK before going in Canada or US?
UK is cheaper than Canada?
depends on where you live. North of UK seems to be much cheaper than London, but there are less opportunities for work. Unless you can work from home, than is different. Just to compare, a house in London is 0.5-1.5 million pounds on average, while in a small northern city can be 36.000 pounds. Food and bills are similar everywhere.
I'd like to live somewhere with job opportunities. I don't think my crypto investments can sustain me in another country.
Hi. Just wondering if you are in the UK. I maintain the #Britlist and am looking out for people to add. You do not have to be specific about your location.
Yes, UK. Nice to meet you. Bedfordshire here.
I'm in Bedfordshire too. Seems we have a few people around here. I know some others who have accounts, but are not using them.
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BEER.Sorry to hear about that. We're nothing similar in here, but I would not use Facebook or whatsapp anymore precisely for this reason. You can't have privacy on these things. You might have a snitcher as well, be careful.
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Thanks man. It was frustrating but for me, I'm just taking it as a sign of Nigeria trying to kill me because it knows I will soon leave.
I was walking home and tbh, i just lost hope when i saw things I saw. Nigeria can never be what it was and i frankly don't don't see what they are celebrating. I'm leaving this place too as soon as i get the chance.
I don't get it... how did random cops on the street know that you had crypto?
EDIT:
Bad @belemo, BAD!
Never give the pigs any information.
You are a 'professional blogger'.
Nothing to do with crypto.
https://peakd.com/politics/@edicted/beware-the-police-state
That being said it's bad practice to blame the victim,
so sorry in advance.
Or a farmer .... a yield farmer.
At the end of the day, everyone to them is a criminal whether you're a writer or not. In my own So situation I was thrown into a police van and beaten by with hand cuffs
Very unpleasant situation. I can imagine they were thinking that were fishing a big whale. Searching your phone without an warrant makes me think they were robbers, looking for your keys... :(
Bro!
My best advice for you is to get a lawyer asap. Dealing with police here Nigeria has become a thing of normalcy. And you have to be very careful while you are alone with them, don't argue with until you have people around you with them. If I share my experience with you, omo! You go pity me. I have gave up on Nigerian police way back. Just stay safe out there, Nigeria isn't safe anymore. Thanks!
🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thanks bro. I appreciate.
You are welcome bro
Wow! What country??
AK47s, perhaps you need your own??
Nigeria.
sorry mate. I have most of my crypto-related apps hidden in my phone. I plan to get another so I don't have to carry anything crypto-related around. I have been stopped several times since I moved to Ibadan but they have never checked my phone and even if they do, I am prepared.
My own was just WhatsApp chat lol. All my crypto and money stuff is in my other phone that I keep at home. It's crazy man.
Oh man that sounds harrowing. I'm really sorry that happened to you dude. It's a brutal world out there and some people are just hellbent on making it even more brutal. Sending you some !LUV and !PIZZA
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Learn more about $PIZZA Token at hive.pizza (1/20)
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@belemo, you've been given LUV from @amphlux.
Check the LUV in your H-E wallet. (1/10)
Ugh that sounds like a horrible experience. I hope the process leaving the country goes well for you and that you get some justice. However I think the legal process is probably just a money burning process.
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The police is fucked up everywhere, what a scary experience, I would do the same get my ass off the country quickly.
Sorry about this man. Now, I have to watch my back too. I'll look for ways to silent the Crypto related groups in my phone. Reading this has been eye opening. Thanks... Sorry again
If you have the opportunity, come to Brazil. Choose the city of Curitiba, it is the capital of the state of Paraná. It's a well-organized city that you won't go through, and I'll give you all the support you need.
Many people from Venezuela and Haiti move to Curitiba to escape the dictatorship that reigns in their countries.
You and all your friends from Nigeria who want to come here are very welcome.
Very terrible situation we have all over. But the main thing is for us all to keep your crypto safe.
I'm sorry, the uninvited optimism for a country I don't know enough about must be annoying....but my main point is, if you want to leave, I hope you guys can leave ASAP. You deserve a life without this BS.
Sounds like a classic shakedown I wouldn't be paranoid long term. I'm not sure where you live but in America, they do these types of traffic stops of random people too. Everyone here is against it but they do it anyways.
We also have some of the worst and unfair crypto laws that make no sense.
I am very sorry the police brandished weapons against you. This is a disgusting thing to do against an innocent person. Threating to tamper with your statement is even worse.
Sorry to hear this happened to you. I hope you can seek safety soon.
It's sickening, to say the least. Glad you're okay now. It's time we form a HIVE community in real life where no government can get us but that's utopic.
Good luck with getting away from your country. I'm myself, thinking of going to Norway or Denmark.
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I like those countries. How expensive do you think it is for someone from Nigeria?
Wow. I just read @josediccus's account and now yours. The cops are very much out of control where I live (USA), but in comparison Nigeria just sounds insanely dangerous. Glad you made it out of there alive. Fuck the pigs.
If you don't use your face ID or finger print on your phone, they can't make you put your phone password in, right? Sorry to hear about this. Next time, just say you're a student or blogger!
I know it's been a couple of days but I am so sorry you had to deal with such harassment. We honestly need to do better as a nation.
This sounds terrifying. Based on some comments, I wonder whether most non-Nigerians can understand the danger and the violence. I think I only understand because I have spoken to so many people from different countries. I have also had friends who immigrated here from other countries and who were very much afraid of the police. When you see someone respond to seeing the police with physical, obvious fear, it rapidly becomes obvious that this person has been traumatized by the police.
I hope you find sanctuary and peace. When I read stories such as these, it really makes all my troubles seem so trivial by comparison!
Wow, I was reading about what happened with those cops, you have to have a city, you should get a lawyer just in case. those guys are not going to stay calm and even more if they know you work with that.
Man that is so crazy ; best of luck.