Actress Didi Ekanem Narrates How Police Extorted 100,000 From Her After #EndSARS Protest

“I FELT EXTREMELY HUMILIATED BECAUSE I WAS HARASSED.

THE OFFICERS WERE VERY INSENSITIVE.

I ADMIT THAT I BROKE THE LAW BUT IT WAS NOT DELIBERATE.

I MADE A U-TURN AT THE WRONG PLACE BECAUSE I WANTED TO RUSH BACK TO GET MY ULCER MEDICATIONS.

BEFORE I COULD COMPLETE THE TURN, SOME HEAVILY ARMED TASK FORCE OFFICIALS POINTED GUNS AT ME WHILE SHOUTING.

I TRIED TO EXPLAIN MY PREDICAMENT, BUT THEY DID NOT HEAR ME OUT.

BECAUSE THEY SAW THAT I WAS A YOUNG LADY, THEY FELT COMFORTABLE BULLYING AND INTIMIDATING ME.

I CRIED AND ADMITTED THAT I BROKE THE LAW.

I PLEADED WITH THEM TO TEMPER JUSTICE WITH MERCY AND FORGIVE ME.

BECAUSE I BROKE THE LAW, THEY FELT JUSTIFIED (TO HARASS ME).

I DID NOT INTRODUCE MYSELF AS AN ACTRESS.

I JUST TOLD THEM I WAS A FASHION DESIGNER.

I HAVE VIDEOS OF THEIR FACES BUT I DID NOT WANT TO POST IT ONLINE.”

“THERE WERE ABOUT 10 OF THEM AND ONE ALMOST TOUCHED MY Bosom S WHILE PRETENDING TO BE FRIENDLY.

WHEN THEIR COMMANDER FINALLY CAME, THEY TOLD ME TO TALK TO HIM, BUT THEY EVENTUALLY DROVE ME TO ALAUSA, IKEJA.

I PLEADED WITH HIM, BUT HE STARTED TO MAKE segxwal ADVANCES AT ME TOO.

HE SAID, ‘I LIKE YOU― YOUR BODY, (ESPECIALLY) YOUR BUTTOCKS’, AND I FELT SO IRRITATED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE ASKED ME TO PAY N200, 000 BUT I COULD ONLY AFFORD N100,000.

I EVENTUALLY MADE A BANK TRANSFER BEFORE THEY RELEASED MY CAR.

THIS ORDEAL LASTED FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM.”