Leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has hit back at criticism trailing her recent disparaging comments on Nigeria, accusing the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
Badenoch who made the accusations in a trending interview with “The Free Press” on Saturday, shared a negative encounter with the Nigerian police, recounting how officers allegedly stole her brother’s shoes and watch.
Responding to a question by the interviewer on the difference between the police in Nigeria and the UK, the Nigerian-born politician said she absolutely trusts the UK police ahead of their Nigerian counterparts.
“I do trust the UK police. My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive,” Badenoch said.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us. When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
While also dwelling on issues affecting Nigeria as a country, Badenoch stated:
“It’s a very poor country. People do all sorts of things. So, giving people a gun is just a license to intimidate. But that’s not just the problem.
“That is not the bar we should use for the British Police. When I was burgled, for example, the police were there. They were helpful before they eventually caught the person. This was in 2004, that was 20 years ago,” she added.