Thieves feared policemen with batons in my days — 99-year-old retiree

Ninety-nine-year-old Tijani Adamson narrates his experience as a colonial police officer.

Can you give us an insight into your background?

I was born on May 29, 1913 at Andrew Street, near Ika Street, Lagos Island (shows his birth certificate).  My father, Adamo Gborigi, was a carpenter. My father was from Kogi State. My mother, Oriratu Alake, was into laundry business and she was well known in the area.

Did your father encourage you to learn carpentry?

My father did not really persuade me to learn carpentry when I was growing up. I used to watch him do his carpentry job. When I was of age, I was enrolled in an Arabic school close to our house. After I left the Arabic institute, I attended St. Peters Primary School and the Christian Missionary Society Grammar School, Lagos. I completed my secondary education at CMS in 1931.

After your secondary education, what did you do?

It was easy then to find a job after leaving secondary school. The first thing I decided to do was to look for a job that would allow me to raise some money. It did not take long before I got a placement in Harbour and Marine Works in Apapa, Lagos. Although the money was not much, it catered for some of my needs.

What were you doing there?    

I was attached to the engineering and diving department. It was an interesting job because it afforded me the opportunity to know about things related to shipping. I did not stay long in the place because I was only interested in getting some level of experience after secondary school education. Immediately I was able to save some money, I quit the job so that I could join the Police Force in 1936.

Did your parents support your decision?

Of course, they did. They were very happy about my decision. In those days, it was a thing of pride to be admitted into the Force. Most parents would be too glad to have their children become police officers. In my case, since when I was in secondary school, I had always wanted to be a police officer. Each time I went home from school and saw a police officer, I knew it was a job I would eventually do after finishing school. So, my focus was on how to join the force even when I was working at Apapa Wharf.

How was policing in those days?

As a policeman during the colonial era, I did general duties. We called it ‘beat.’ It involved patrolling some areas. A police officer would be attached to an area and it was his duty to protect those residing in that place. We carried batons as our weapon and not guns. We did not use patrol vans and patrol was done on foot. The use of guns was strictly protected. We were never allowed to use guns anyhow except during emergencies. No one could carry guns in public the way police officers do nowadays. Despite the fact that we used batons as weapon, thieves ran away from the police. If there were emergencies, people would call on the police for help. We responded quickly to distress calls. Sometimes, we used a whistle to call on our colleagues for reinforcement. If it was a fire incident, we would provide help to the victims before the arrival of men of the fire service.

What was police uniform then?

We wore a black jacket and knickers complemented with sandals. The jacket had eight shining silver coloured buttons.  From afar, when a torch was beamed on us, people would recognise that policemen were approaching.

What was the relationship between the police and the public then?

The relationship between the police and the public was very cordial. The public saw the police as their protectors. They gave the police full respect. In fact, each time a police officer was walking on the street, children would gather happily on the road and sing, “Police officer and his baton.”

In response, the police officer would continue to march on with his baton held tightly in his hand.

How much were you paid as a police officer?

Most of us who were police officers then joined because of the desire to serve our fatherland. We were not particular about money. Also, things were very cheap. When I was under training, each recruit was receiving 11 pence per day. There was no monthly pay then. But in those days, six pence would feed a family of three.

What challenges did you face as a policeman?

I suffered so much as a policeman. I was always travelling from one area to the other. There was a time a riot broke out in Badagry and a team of policemen was sent there to quell it. I led the team. It was when the colonial government introduced tax and the people said they were not going to pay it. In the fracas, the rioters killed one of our men. We were able to overpower them and seize their guns. It was a very tough assignment because we were to ensure that the situation did not get out of hand.  Also in the process, we were to protect the people even though they were determined not to yield to government’s order. In the end, they paid the tax. After the payment, each tax payer was issued a receipt to be carried everywhere they went and shown upon demand.

Were you married before you became a policeman?

Yes, I married my first wife before I joined the police. I met her when she came to stay with one of her family members in Lagos. At a point, she returned to Oyo State but before then, we had been engaged. When she returned, our families met and we later got married.

How many years did you spend in the police?

I spent 33 years. I resigned in 1969 after attaining the post of Assistant Superintendent of Police.

What do you think is responsible for the loss of that glorious era of the Nigeria Police Force?

Well, I was not a Nigerian police. I was trained by the British and worked for them. I know that police officers during the colonial period received a different training and orientation.

When you retired, what did you venture into?

Immediately I resigned, I knew I was going to an establishment to become a security officer. Whenever a police officer resigned then, he was sure to get a place in a company that would require the services of an ex-service man.

Police officers who were due for retirement often had three options. There was the judicial department where one would serve as third grade magistrate. The University of Ibadan was the second option where the officer would be employed as a chief security officer. The third offer often came from private companies looking for security officers.

When the Inspector General of Police, Kam Salem, asked me which one I preferred, I chose a textile firm called Bhojson. The IG told me that they wanted a retired police officer. There was a time the company was about to pay salaries and robbers invaded the place. One of their directors named Orege, who put up resistance, was killed.

It was after the incident that they wrote the Force to request for a retired police officer. I worked at the company for 20 years as a chief security officer. The company wanted me to assist them on cases of forgery, pilfering, loading of goods without way bill and stealing of goods in connivance with the security guards.

Did you apprehend any worker in the practice?

Many of the employees were caught for criminal activities. There was a time one worker was caught for wrapping some textile materials on his body before wearing his clothes on it. Before I left the company, the management gave me a letter of commendation.

When you left the company, did you join another one?

As soon as I left the textile company, I decided to give myself rest. I did not do anything up till today. My children have been taking care of me.

Did you encourage any of your children to join the Force?

I recall that at the brink of my retirement, the IG asked me to bring my son for recruitment into the Force. He was in the university then and he said he was not interested in being a policeman. I then went to my sister and asked her if she would want to send her son for the police recruitment. She gave me her son named Mahmood Ali. I took him and another boy named Surajudeen, now deceased, to the IG.  Ali was successful in the recruitment exercise but the other did not perform well. So, instead of dismissing him, I pleaded with the IG to allow him to work at the driving unit and become a driver since the unit only requires skill.

Ali rose to the position of assistant commissioner of police before he retired. I decided to assist people into the Force for them to contribute their quota to national development.

What kind of training did you give your children? 

God assisted me to train them well through quality education. My first son is a lecturer. He teaches abroad.  I have an engineer, artist and cloth designer.

Since you witnessed Nigeria’s past and present, what will you say about both?

When I look at the history of Nigeria, the only regret I have is that it lacks sincere rulers. Everybody goes into governance for personal benefits.

Do you still see some of your friends in the police?

I do not see any of them anymore because many of them have died.

What were your hobbies as a young man?

As a police officer, I played football, lawn tennis, cricket and hockey. I was a member of Nigerian Police 11.

How sociable were you in those days?

 There was a social club I belonged to called ‘Merry 13.’ The members were not only from police but from other professions.

How do you relax?

My only form of relaxation is prayer. I talk to my God on daily basis about my life and my children.

Do you have any special food?

Yes, I do. I like pounded yam, garri, amala and fufu.

What is your advice to youths?    

My advice to youths is that they should take things easy because life is very simple. They should cut their coat according to their cloth.