“Suicide Was My Only Alternative”: Inspector Ikwuje Samson Exposes Deep Poverty, Horrific Living Conditions, And Corruption In The Nigerian Police Force

A serving police officer, Inspector Ikwuje Samson, has exposed the deep poverty, horrific living conditions, and systemic corruption plaguing the Nigeria Police Force, saying suicide was his only alternative before deciding to speak out.

Inspector Samson, who said he was enlisted in 2003 and currently serves at the Department of Operations, Enugu Police Command, made the revelations in a video call interview with content creator D English Alhaji.

Speaking at the start of the interview, the Inspector said he was fully aware of the consequences of his actions.

“I know why before I chatted here, I know the consequences. I know the offence I’m committing. I know the punishment, whether it’s summary reduction in rank, reprimand, confinement to barracks not less than 14 weeks. Those things do not bother me. Because I was even contemplating suicide,” he said.

According to him, he chose to speak out instead of taking his own life.

“I was contemplating suicide, and I said no, I have another option. And the option is to call English Alhaji,” he stated.

The Inspector, who said he has served for over 23 years, lamented that police officers are suffering in silence despite obeying the Police Act and Regulations for years.

“There are a lot of things going on in the system that the world need to know. As I’m seated here, I am representing the consciousness of over 200,000 police officers who are suffering,” he said.

“It will be quite unfortunate that you have me as a brother who is an inspector of police who have served for over 23 years, and I’ll still be calling you to pay my children’s school fees. I think that is not good enough.”

He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ignore anyone who tells him police officers are happy.

“Let me reach out to our father of the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Henceforth, never listen to anybody who come to him with a smiling face on behalf of us. That person is there for his or herself. No police officer is smiling. If they tell you that any police officer is smiling, that person is telling lie. We are not smiling; we are suffering,” Samson said.

The Inspector decried the lack of housing, allowances, and basic welfare for rank and file officers.

“Look at the ramshackle buildings. We don’t even have housing. No promotion allowances, no traveling allowances, no transfer allowances. A lot of allowances that other sister agencies are enjoying, we don’t enjoy it,” he lamented.

He revealed that he has only been issued uniform once since joining the Force in 2003.

“I have since over 23 years now, I was given uniform for once, which is when I was in the college. And ever since I graduated up till now, I have not been issued any. The little place where I feed my school, I mean, I pay my children’s school fees from, is where I feed myself, pay my transportation, pay house rent, and buy my uniform.”

Samson also questioned why uniforms which are supposed to be issued three times a year according to police regulations are never supplied, wondering whether it is the system holding it or the Federal Government not releasing funds.

He cited the recent incident in Boki, Cross River State, where officers were deployed for almost three weeks without food or allowances, adding that it was only after a video exposing the situation went viral that authorities responded.

“When you’re working, I think the work should guarantee you that whenever you are going for the work, as long as you’re putting on the uniform, you are supposed to be supported by Nigerians, by the constitution, and by my bosses. But the reality on the ground is that anytime you are going to work, you are on your own,” he said.

“The only time your office actually recognizes you is when you go out and kill a very big elephant and bring it to them. Then they will know that you are a very good officer.”

DISCLAIMER: The claims, identity, and service status of the individual identified as Inspector Ikwuje Samson in the viral video could not be independently verified as of press time. The Nigeria Police Force has not officially confirmed whether he is a serving officer of the Enugu State Command. This report is based solely on statements made in the video interview with content creator D English Alhaji.