TheCable

Abayomi Shogunle, head of the public complaint rapid response unit (PCRRU), says it is better for Nigerians to communicate with police officers in pidgin English.

Commenting on the recent killings of citizens by trigger-happy policemen, Shogunle said communicating with the officers in pidgin will aid better understanding.

Kolade Johnson and Jessy Gold, both residents of Lagos state, were killed by policemen within two weeks.

Shogunle, who tweeted a video where Tunji Disu, commander of the Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) was seen addressing his men in Pidgin, said communicating with policemen in a language they understand will aid better understanding.

In the video, Disu was heard saying Nigerians were not happy that arms bought for officers to protect them are used in killing citizens.

“Sebi we no forget that thing wey dey teach us for academy or police college. Dem talk say it is better to allow armed robber to escape than to kill one innocent person,” Disu said.

Shogunle asked Nigerians to emulate Disu by speaking pidgin to police officers on the road.

According to him, the use of pidgin, rather than “Queen’s English” would save people from trouble with the policemen.

“Lagos State will be calm if police chiefs in #Lagos do more of this,” Shogunle wrote.

“#YSGuide: For now, don’t go and be speaking Queen’s English with them on the road. For proper understanding talk to them in Pidgin, another way to avoid kasala.”

Nice one 👍.
Lagos State will be calm if police chiefs in #Lagos do more of this.
Source: RRS Lagos
cc: @PoliceNG_CRU#YSGuide: For now, don't go and be speaking Queen's English with them on the road. For proper understanding talk to them in Pidgin, another way to avoid kasala. pic.twitter.com/9MgT7VNJn9

— Abayomi Shogunle (@YomiShogunle) April 17, 2019

His comment, has, however, generated controversy on social media, with some accusing him of being unprofessional.

Some questioned if the policemen were trained in pidgin, while others demanded that “learned” people be recruited into the force.

Below are some of the reactions by Nigerians.

Why should I talk to them in Pidgin? Did you use pidgin to recruit and train them?

— Dr Uwem Ite (@uwemite) April 17, 2019

Advertisement

Oga can you try and employ learned people instead of all these retired agberos you have given uniforms and guns to?…asking for a friend(for fear of my life)

Advertisement

— UG BABY😘🌹 (@Sucre_007) April 17, 2019

Lols….wonders shall never end….but na the Queen's English dem dey fear small…i don use am escape dia wahala sometimes…

— Westo (@westbaba_j) April 17, 2019

Why should we use pidgin? aren't the officers educated enough?

— Mr Hammer7️⃣ (@BlackHammer_100) April 17, 2019

This is a shame on us as a Nation!

— HyperNation! (@234feeds) April 17, 2019

Imagine, how do you recruit this people?
In our local communities, when a child is way past wayward , the parents pushes them to join police force. I’m certain it’s the same everywhere, we now see the end products #ReformPoliceNG #Endsars

— Cali 😎 (@___Mistercap) April 17, 2019

So if we speak "Queens English ", that means they have the right to harass us? Please explain properly.

— Cri Tic 🦅 (@MayorOfMayors) April 17, 2019

Things that can get you assaulted by the Police
1. Owning a nice-looking cellphone
2. Speaking Queens English
3. Asking "What did I do wrong?"
4. Standing in front of your house
5. Looking happy
6. Not looking happy
7. Having a tattoo
8. having dreads

— Imoh (@ImohUmoren) April 17, 2019

Ok I am not understanding Nigeria again so in order not to be killed by SARS officials one must speak pidgin and not the Queens English? So the people that have already been killed by SARS they were speaking British English? Is NIGERIA well at all? pic.twitter.com/rzyTwcKoRh

— 五木春斗 🇯🇵🇳🇬 (@vandal_savageX) April 17, 2019

If the police can not communicate in queens English then what is the purpose of educational certificate such as WAEC in recruitment?

— Ahmed Tijani (@AttaiOfficial) April 17, 2019

Defending his stance, Shogunle said he only identified a problem and proferred a solution to it, arguing that there is nothing unprofessional with his tweet.

“What’s unprofessional about me alerting the public to what I’ve known to be a problem over the years! What of first 3 lines in my tweet. The Senior Officer addressing the men had to revert to Pidgin, why did you think he did that?” he wrote.

What's unprofessional about me alerting the public to what I've known to be a problem over the years!
What of first 3 lines in my tweet.
The Senior Officer addressing the men had to revert to Pidgin, why did you think he did that?
You just want traffic to your site cos of advert. https://t.co/fF2VHy5sEb

— Abayomi Shogunle (@YomiShogunle) April 17, 2019