By Olumide Akinrinlola

Yesterday, my car broke down on one of the express roads in Toronto. I didn’t call the police; I was actually waiting for a towing vehicle while shivering under minus 4-degree weather, looking right and left to see if the towing vehicle was arriving soon.

Not more than 20 minutes later, the police arrived and parked beside my car. Passersby had alerted them. They weren’t furious that the car was almost causing a traffic jam on a busy, slightly hilly road near a sharp bend. They were primarily concerned about my safety and health while I stood in the snow.

The first officer said, “Hello, some people called the cops; that’s why we came. Are you good? Do you need some help?” Before I could say no, they asked again, “How can we assist you? Your safety is very important,” the officer said.

I was so happy that this is a working country. I sincerely thanked them and told them not to bother about me because I had already called the towing company and was actually waiting for the vehicle dispatched to help me, with a promise to stay safe until the towing vehicle arrived. After hearing that from me, they then asked what actually went wrong with the car.

I explained, and they left, urging me to call 911 in case I needed further help. With a smile on my face, I prayed that Nigeria will get there one day.

After the beautiful experience, I sought refuge to avoid the cold, snowy weather, and I began to press my phone until I stumbled on a video where Nyesom Wike, the Hon. Minister of FCT, was having a confrontation with a military officer. I was like, “What the heck! What the hell is this? When will our leaders learn how to talk properly?” The whole drama was uncalled for. As usual, Minister Wike was not polite in his communication, and the military officer also didn’t care.

While I condemn the embarrassing drama between the duo, I want to say that the act of using security personnel, especially men in army uniform, to intimidate citizens in Nigeria over a private land dispute or property-related matters is very common, and this lawlessness must stop. It’s part of the craziness Nigerians must resist. There are several cases across Nigeria where some serving or ex-generals are intimidating people, families, and vulnerable Nigerians over land-related disputes.

Some of these generals don’t even obey court orders to vacate disputed lands. What happened to Wike yesterday is a wake-up call to cry against this madness, which is very prevalent in Nigeria. Many people may not know that this has been happening to the common man on the streets.

We made so much noise about it across social media yesterday because it involved Wike. What about the many oppressed Nigerians in similar situations who are helpless? Security abroad is under the law, and they are trained to protect the citizens and enforce the law. Look at my experience yesterday: no police extortion and no police intimidation. In fact, the Canadian police were ready to stay with me yesterday and help me out had I wanted their help. Why would soldiers be drafted to guard private property regardless of who owns it? Was that why the military was created in Nigeria?

Boko Haram, ISIS, ISWAP, and violent herdsmen are still in the business of killing innocent civilians as of the last time I checked. Nigerians lose their lives daily due to a high level of insecurity. Kidnappers and armed robbers are on the rampage. We need more men in uniform to protect the citizens rather than guard private lands.

In Canada, it is absolutely illegal for an ex-general, or anyone else, to use active military personnel to intimidate a civilian or government official over a private land dispute. Canadian armed forces members are strictly prohibited from using their position, uniform, or military resources for personal or private disputes. Using the army to intimidate civilians in a private dispute is a serious criminal act in Canada.

Funnily enough, a Canadian police officer can arrest a soldier if the actions constitute a criminal offense under Canadian civilian law. Even if the offender has gone to hide in the barracks, they will liaise with the military police to arrest him and try him under the criminal code. While it is true that soldiers obey their last command, it may interest Nigerians to know that members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are subject to both military law (under the National Defence Act) and all applicable civilian laws of Canada, including the Criminal Code.

Until we all uphold our laws and see the law as supreme, regardless of whose ox is gored, Nigerians will continue to experience human rights abuses.

Olumide, the Publusher of Starnews NG , writes from Canada.