Nigerian singer and songwriter Skales has openly criticised the Nigerian Police Force following an alleged altercation with officers on December 4, 2024, near Magodo, Lagos, while en route to an interview at City FM.
The artist took to social media platform X to share his experience, accusing the officers of misconduct and harassment. According to Skales, the incident escalated when the police allegedly pointed guns at him and his team, treating them as if they were criminals.
“Nigerian police will not stop being a joke,” Skales wrote. “So yesterday, the Nigerian police under the bridge close to Magodo, as if you’re going to Fela Shrine/Agidingbi, stopped us on our way to City FM last night and displayed plenty madness of pointing guns at us as if we were criminals after they finished their usual b.s.”
The singer recounted that the officers requested “Christmas money” but were met with refusal. Skales alleged that the refusal led to threats from the officers, who insisted on searching his vehicle.
“They now asked for money for Christmas, then I said I swear I’m not giving, and we are late for an interview. They said a lot of rubbish… that they would delay us and search us,” Skales wrote. “I said my level of hatred for this joke called Nigerian Police Force will not let me want to ever be at your mercy.”
During the search, the officers reportedly found bundles of cash in the car, which Skales said worsened the situation. “They started saying, ‘Okay, so you get money you no want give us; we go show you today,’” the singer wrote. Despite the threats, he said nothing incriminating was found, and the officers eventually let him go after verifying his documents.
Expressing frustration, Skales criticised the officers for focusing on profiling individuals with luxury vehicles rather than addressing pressing security challenges.
“Nigerian police, I will never respect those fools. Useless people, na only to stop Benz una sabi. When yawa gas, una go gbes… foolish idiots,” he concluded.