Activities of Beninnois police at Seme Boarder

Not many people would want to talk on this matter, although the reality is evident every day. There appears to be a desperate need to maximally exploit Nigerians who pass across the boundary to and from Benin Republic and the Beninnois police appear to be making good of it.

I believe the ECOWAS Protocol on movement of persons and goods provides for respect for persons who pass across the border. I understand that one does not necessarily need to have international passport to travel within the ECOWAS countries. This is observed mostly in breach. Some years ago I went through the place and was so badly treated. When I came back I complained to the Nigerian Police, but I was told that that was what they do and that it was difficult to control. Five years down the line, the treatment has not changed.

Surprisingly, other countries treat people courteously when going to or coming back from their country, once you pay your dues. But no matter how clean you think you are, you must be found guilty by the Benin Police and some money extracted from you.

I did not have an international passport, but I had two valid Nigerian identity cards. The issue of not having international passport is another story. But, suffice it to say my efforts to get it before my journey failed for no fault of mine. The passport was the reason why I was subjected to the payment of extra One Thousand Naira that I should not have paid. The young police officer insisted that I had to pay Three Thousand Naira, but for his boss who intervened. I protested, but my protest fell on deaf ears. The people who collected my money mildly somehow threatened me that they were the ones in control and I had to do their biddings.

The payment was not the annoying part, but the manner in which my bag was ransacked and my personal belongings scattered even when I was protesting that I should be given a fair treatment even while they were carrying out their lawful duty. One of the travellers was almost crying when he was brought to the police post (although I did not know what his case was).

I cannot understand why Togolese and Ghanaian police, customs and immigration should treat Nigerians who pass through their borders with respect, but the Benninoise ones will not. Everywhere in Lagos and other places in Nigeria, there citizens of Benin Republic live and work and do businesses even without any papers at all.

Many stories have been told of how Nigerians are maltreated by this our nearest neighbour. It was once rumoured that Alhaji Asari Dokubo was detained in police cell. So it has therefore become very necessary to let them realize that we deserve honourable treatment, just as we treat them here. The belief that Nigerians have money and that this money must be taken from them at all costs is not proper.

While it is true that there are smugglers who do not obey border rules and do dishonourable things, everyone should not be lobed together and treated as common criminals.

The government should please ask the Benin Republic government to caution their officials or appeal to them, if that will do, to treat Nigerians who cross their border with respect and fairness.

David Ikoro