Thread by @aniediudo

My Uber just got pulled over by SARS officials. It was f@*king scary! 5 criminal-looking, thug-like individuals in an unmarked commercial bus (danfo). Searched the 2 of the 3 phones I was with, asked me to log in to my laptop (I politely asked "Why?") #EndSARS #StopRobbingUs

1/n

Location is Igbo Efon junction on Lekki - Epe Expressway heading east towards Chevron. Broad daylight, traffic light turns red, driver stops, there's only 1 car ahead of us, danfo pulls up right beside me (on the right), and these men surround the doors of the Toyota Corolla

2/n

I'm seated in the back seat, earphones in my ears on a video call with people from different cities across the world. After insisting & nearly pulling a gun on him, driver rolls down his windows, unlocks the doors, and 2 of the men jump into the car, 1 in front, 1 beside me

3/n

UPDATE: I'm well & good, safe & sound at home.

4/n

While it lasted it was a worrying & very troubling experience. First off, I can say I was a bit calm & cautious because I had heard stories. I insisted that I would only talk to 1 person at a time, & my bag would only be opened on the sidewalk, in the open, nobody behind me!

5/n

This experience got me wondering what would have happened if I was 20 years younger, less experienced, not confident that I had an employer, colleagues, friends & family that I could reach out to in a heartbeat, who would very likely take action & ensure I was protected.

6/n

There's a bit more to this story, so please permit me to add a few more details & permutations as to how delicate the situation was. I will reveal some personal details & dealings I had but won't necessary @ (mention) the entities I had transacted with earlier in the day

7/n

Midway into this "stop & search" saga, I was asked to use my main phone to dial 1 of the other 2 phones I was carrying - 1 in my bag, the other in my pocket.

"Which line is in this other phone? What is the number? Where is the receipt?"

(I kid you not - phone receipt!)

8/n

"Oya, dial the number of this phone from your main phone! How many SIM dey this phone? You must dial the 2 numbers..."

I start calling my Airtel line. I fumble twice - first typing 10 instead of 11 digits, then typing 13 instead of 11 digits.

"You no sabi your number?"

9/n

I finally get the number right & because we are out in the open on the expressway, I can't tell if the phone is ringing in his hand. So I lift up my main phone to my ear, to verify if the call has gone through.

"Is it ringing in your main phone? It's not ringing here O!"

10/n

He then casually collects my main phone as if he wants to listen as well and before I could say #EndSARS, he hands the phone to one of his fellow "officers" who jumps into the open bus & starts scrolling through my phone.

(I had unlocked my phone to dial my Airtel line)

11/n

At this point I am literally peeing on myself - notifications, email transaction receipts, order confirmations etc.

GT Bank - "healthy" balance in 2 accounts
Barter - added to my balance & funded my virtual dollar card
Amazon - Reloaded my wallet & bought stuff

12/n

Wallets Africa - sent funds direct to an M-PESA account in Kenya
Bamboo - order completed for 1 Tesla share
Piggyvest - Safelocked from PiggyFlex, funded Flex Dollar for the first time

It was a good day but certainly not the day for SARS to be scrolling through your phone!

13/n

Seriously panicking, I take my eyes off my bag & all its content spread out on the sidewalk - laptop, earphones, chargers, packs of stickers, 2 t-shirts etc. - turn to their "Oga" on my right and ask why his colleague is scrolling through my phone?

"Are you a journalist?"

14/n

"Or a lawyer? Where do you work?"

I wasn't sure mentioning "Google" would help or complicate my situation.

But his colleague is still scrolling through my phone O!

So I flash my security badge (ID card) & I very well knew what the next question/comment would be...

15/n

"Where is Google logo, office address & phone number on your ID card?"

"So is it the office you are coming from, or going to?"

I need my main phone to call family/office/friends.

Officer is still scrolling, or maybe not. Luckily, my phone has no "Home" or "Back" buttons

16/n

I believe it's been about 15 to 20 minutes since we got accosted. Oga seems tired, it appears I'm "bad market". No contraband, refused to enter their bus, been a bit difficult to frame me or plant some "evidence" in my bag or pocket, other officer hasn't read my emails...

17/n

...for those who know me quite well, I've been unusually polite, "officers" don't seem trigger-happy, appear lucid, relatively rational though obviously angry (with life or their job or daily routine).

Oga: "Leave am make we dey go. As I see am I know say na gentleman"

18/n

Officer: "Oga, make him open this other (3rd) phone. Why you carry 1 phone, another 1 for pocket, another 1 for bag, come plug earphone put for ear?"

Oga: "I say leave am make we dey go. You sef... Hian! Your head too hot" (or something like that).

"Where you dey live?"

19/n

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