Nigeria Secret Police ‘Arrest’ A Cat Over The Escape Of A Rights Activist During A Raid
The Department of State Services (DSS), a clandestine security and law enforcement agency in Nigeria reportedly illegally invaded the residence of Yoruba Activist, Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho around 2 a.m. on Thursday of July 1st, 2021, in Ibadan.
Olayomi Koiki, the spokesperson to Yoruba nationalist leader, Sunday Adeyemo, informed the media that during the raid at Igboho’s home, the DSS officers unable to find Igboho, in swift anger reportedly carried way a cat thinking that Igboho turned into it.
In addition to the “arrested” cat, I am not sure of its name, the officers still enraged for not been able to find the Activist and believing that he had through magic transformed into a physical cat, reportedly began “killing the cats, stamping on the kittens. One of the cats just gave birth.” In their state of sudden episodes of explosive anger, killed some Igboho’s men and destroyed properties.
Igboho who is known for the agitation for self-determination and call for the Yoruba nation remains an irritant to the Buhari authority, but the same claim cannot be made of the cats. Especially when cats are known for traits like friendliness and restiveness. As inquisitive as they are I wonder how they were looking as they were undergoing attack?
Many around the world might be asking in dismay why will officials of a law enforcement agency in this modern age, approach domestic cats in the reported abusive manner?
This will not be the first times as in 2009 the Police in Kwara State, Nigeria held and paraded a goat in front of the media on the suspicion that it is a human armed robber that changed its shape.
Among many domiciled Nigeria, there is a common belief in superstition and voodoo also known as Juju, and their supernatural effects. The DSS officers by their own admission confiscated charms and amulets from the residence, and even displayed photos of charms but no photo of a cat was shown. Paraded some of Igboho’s allies but no sight of the Cat as was once done in the case of the goat by the police. It is my hope that this sort of diabolic panic and primitive approach to law enforcement in Africa’s most populous nation will change on professional grounds, 79 years from now!
The Nigerian law enforcement officials have a dirty history of regularly committing human rights violations, including unlawful murders, torments, and other ill-treatments, but for them to be reportedly engaged in torturing, killing, and abducting cats brings us to the long-standing poor protection of animal rights in Nigeria.
The DSS must come clean about the reported animal cruelty behaviors on Cats. I do not think at no time did any of these cats offend the DSS officials. If they did, on their behalf the right-thinking people of the world apologize to the Nigeria law enforcement system. In fact, the U.S. government and other donor countries to Nigeria should press for Pet adequate protection and welfare in Nigeria.
More painfully, is that the DSS reportedly wildly broke into the residence and shooting guns without any search warrant, as such they might have further abused the restful sleep of the cats as they are known to respond quickly external stimuli.
I do not subscribe to superstitions, but I have read in legendary history that cats are friends of the devil, sorceresses in disguise and could bewitch people with curses. Involved DSS officers stay alert!
Nigeria, a place where poor human rights abounds, domestic animals are under maltreatment physically, sexually, and/or psychologically and fatally abused due to poor legal provisions of rights of animal. While I do not know if the cat(s) carried away by the DSS officials are currently receiving standards of care in terms of shelter, feeding and sanitation, I strongly suggest that the cat or cats be returned alive to their domestic home, anything short of that their legendry power of jinx and spells could bewitch their snatchers.
Prof. John Egbeazien Oshodi, an American based Police/Prison Scientist and Forensic/Clinical/Legal Psychologist. A government Consultant on matters of forensic-clinical adult/child psychological services in the USA; Chief Educator and Clinician at the Transatlantic Enrichment and Refresher Institute, an Online Lifelong Center for Personal, Professional and Career Development. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African settings. In 2011, he introduced the State-of-the-Art Forensic Psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C and the Nasarawa State University where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. The Development Professor and International Liaison Consultant at the African University of Benin, and a Virtual Faculty at the ISCOM University, Benin of Republic. Author of over 36 academic publications/creations, at least 200 public opinion writeups on African issues, and various books.
Prof. Oshodi was born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria to parents with almost 40 years of police/corrections service, respectively. Periodically visits home for scholastic and humanitarian works. [email protected]