Former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, MD Abubakar, once had an unforgettable run-in with his own men, who unknowingly attempted to arrest him, mistaking him for a civilian.
In a reflective recount of his time in service, Abubakar shared the surprising and somewhat comical incident that took place on a Saturday morning.
“As Commissioner of Police in Lagos, I never took my duties lightly especially on weekends. Although my official day usually started at 10 a.m., I decided to leave home earlier that morning to inspect officers without prior notice.”
Driving himself in his Jeep, Abubakar headed toward the office, but changed his mind and opted to observe officers stationed along Herbert Macaulay Road instead.
At a checkpoint, he was flagged down by a group of young officers.
“One constable walked up to me and said, ‘Young man, where are you going with your father’s car?’ He asked for my documents and licence. I calmly told him my name was Mohammed.”
The constable insisted he present an ID card. Abubakar, keeping his identity under wraps, replied, “Only if you show me yours first.”
The officer had no ID card on him, so he called for their sergeant, who repeated the request. Again, Abubakar responded by asking for the sergeant’s ID first.
His calm defiance appeared suspicious. Without suspecting his true identity, the officers decided to escalate the matter.
“They told me we were going to the Yaba Police Station (Panti) to verify my identity. When we got there, the only free parking spot was the one marked for the DPO. I parked there. The constable shouted, ‘That’s for the DPO!’ I just smiled and said nothing.”
Inside the station, things took another odd turn. They brought him before an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who was in casual clothes.
“He invited me in for questioning. I refused, saying I wouldn’t be interrogated by someone in home clothes. He got angry and tried to drag me inside, I resisted and pulled him back. That’s when he paused, looked at my face more closely and suddenly went pale.”
The realization struck.
Meanwhile, an elderly officer, suspicious of the scene, quietly slipped into the DPO’s office to check the wall where photos of senior officers were displayed.
“Once he confirmed who I was, he didn’t say a word, he just jumped out the window and ran!”
The sergeant still hadn’t grasped the situation until another officer leaned in and whispered into his ear: “That’s the CP.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
“They had no idea who I was the whole time,” Abubakar concluded with a chuckle. “It was one of the most ironic and unforgettable days of my career.”
