Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, recently made a bold statement criticizing the Nigerian Police, accusing them of robbing citizens instead of providing protection. Her comments came during an interview with a British journalist, where she shared her contrasting experiences with law enforcement in Nigeria and the UK.
When asked if she trusted the UK police, Badenoch responded affirmatively, saying, “I do. My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.” She further recounted her personal experience with Nigerian police corruption.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us,” she said, adding with laughter, “I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.” This revelation left the interviewer visibly shocked, prompting a response: “They took his shoe and his watch?”
Badenoch explained that the situation in Nigeria reflects broader socio-economic challenges, stating, “It’s a very poor country. People do all sorts of things. So, giving people a gun is just a license to intimidate.”
In contrast, Badenoch praised the professionalism of the British police. Reflecting on an incident from 2004, she noted, “When I was burgled, for example, the police were there. They were helpful before they eventually caught the person.”
