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Kemi Badenoch Accuses Nigeria Police Of Theft: “They Rob Those They Should Protect
They took my brother’s shoe and his watch. It’s a shocking memory of how those meant to protect us can abuse their power.
London, United Kingdom- Leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has alleged that the Nigeria Police rob those they are sworn to protect, stating a personal experience involving her brother.
In an interview with a UK journalist, Badenoch was asked whether she trusted the UK police.
She responded affirmatively, contrasting her positive experience with British law enforcement with her negative interactions in Nigeria.
“I do. My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive,” Badenoch said during the interview.
The Niche reports that Badenoch accused the Nigeria Police of stealing her brother’s belongings. “They took my brother’s shoe and his watch. It’s a shocking memory of how those meant to protect us can abuse their power,” she said.
Badenoch, who has been critical of Nigeria since assuming leadership of the Conservative Party, framed her criticism within the broader context of governance and institutional failure.
Her remarks have generated reactions, with some Nigerians on social media agreeing with her while others accuse her of leveraging negative stereotypes for political gain.
“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.”
“They took his shoe and his watch?”
Kemi added, “It’s a very poor 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. 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.”