Samuel Oladipupo
Seasoned actor, Ropo Ewenla, had a raw deal from the Nigerian police on Friday night when some officers on patrol not only stopped his car but also called him a robber.
He had expected the policemen to allow him to go after they had checked the boot of his cart.
But one of them called Seyi sparked his anger when he called him a robber.
Seyi apparently became angry when the artist, who is also a member of staff of the University of Ibadan, noted that it was unwise for the policemen to stop cars on a road so narrow that it could not take two cars at a time.
His belief, according to an audio recording of the encounter, is that forcing all vehicles to stop at the same time, since there is no space for others to move when they are attending to one, is even dangerous for all parties.
It was at that point that Seyi accused him of teaching them their job, while also declaring that the actor was a robber.
“Ole ni e, ole ni e,” Seyi shouted repeatedly.
This forced Ewenla to raise is voice and said that if the policeman knew he (actor) was a robber, he must take him to their station for necessary action.
A crowd of other impatient yet concerned drivers had gathered round them, most of them calling for a truce, with Seyi’s colleagues also pleading with the actor.
Ewenla was, however, further angered when Seyi told the people that it was about the third time he would encounter (Ewenla) in such an odd circumstance.
Several of Ewenla’s friends showed concern as he managed to post a report on the matter on Facebook when the heat was on.
He later posted the audio recording of the encounter.
In a chat with phenomenal.com.ng on Saturday morning, Ewenla, who is one of the best stage and TV actors Nigeria boasts today, said he felt insulted when the policeman branded him a robber.
“They asked me to open the boot of my car, and I did so. They did not find anything incriminating there. Yet the manacled me a robber because I told them that stopping everyone at that odd spot and odd time makes everyone vulnerable
“That is the mentality of many of Nigerian policemen, especially the rank and file. They do not have the right mentality and orientation to deal with the public,” he said.The incident came at a time many stakeholders are expressing worries over extra-judicial killings that have become recurrent in the country.
