18/05/2026
Growing up, I always wanted to become a police officer. I loved the uniform, the respect, and the way police officers appeared in Nigerian movies chasing criminals with sirens loud loud. Anytime I saw checkpoint on the road, I would stand straight and salute like small recruit.
I used to tell my mother, “One day, na me go protect this country.”
She would laugh and say, “Just make sure say you no arrest me first.”
Honestly, I was serious about the dream… until one frightening night changed everything.
It happened one evening when I was coming back from my friend’s birthday party. Everywhere was already dark, and the keke I entered broke down halfway. Since my house was not too far, I decided to trek small.
As I was walking, I noticed three boys standing near one quiet corner. One of them whistled and said, “Fine girl, where you dey go?”
My spirit immediately told me, “My sister, wahala don start.”
I increased my speed, but before I knew it, one grabbed my bag while another blocked my front.
“Bring your phone quietly!”
Ahhh! My legs started shaking like generator wey no get fuel.
I tried to form brave girl because future police officer no suppose fear. But when one of them brought out small knife, all my courage disappeared immediately.
I shouted, “Take the phone! Take the bag! Even collect my slippers!”
One of them even laughed and said, “This one cooperate pass our expectation.”
As they were dragging my bag, suddenly we heard loud siren from afar.
“WEE WOO WEE WOO!”
Omo… the robbers changed instantly from dangerous criminals to Olympic runners. One jumped gutter. Another almost tore his trouser while running.
But the funny part was me.
Instead of feeling safe, I panicked too and started running with them.
One policeman shouted, “Hey! Stop there!”
I shouted back while running, “I no be thief o!”
My slippers nearly left my legs as I ran for dear life. Fear no dey allow anybody think correctly.
The police finally caught one robber while the rest escaped. When everything calmed down, one officer looked at me sweating and breathing like person wey just finished marathon.
He asked, “So why you run with armed robbers?”
I said, “Oga, fear no know uniform.”
Even the policemen started laughing.
But deep down, that night shook me badly. Watching the police chase armed robbers in real life was completely different from the movies I used to enjoy. The shouting, fear, darkness, and confusion were too overwhelming.
That was the night I realized something — I admired police officers, but I was not built for that kind of danger.
When I got home, my mother hugged me tightly after hearing what happened.
Then she asked jokingly, “So future police officer, you still dey interested?”
I looked at her seriously and said, “Mummy, abeg… I go protect Nigeria from inside my house.”
Since that day, my dream changed completely. Now, anytime I hear police siren behind me, even if I do nothing wrong, my heart still skips one beat. Fear no dey hear explanation.
