Last week, a friend of mine was stopped, arrested and beaten like a common criminal by SARS while taking his car to the car wash.
What was his crime you may be wondering? Well, he is a successful young Nigerian who doesn't for the corrupt system.
How did this happen?
He was stopped and asked what he does for a living, he told them he was into IT and immediately, they accuse him of being a 419 operative. They questioned the legitimacy of his earnings as an IT personnel and how he could afford an automobile like the one he owned; a Toyota Camry 2014 model.
For those who do not know, SARS is "Special Anti-Robbery Squad", a special unit of the Nigerian Police and they are a pain and more criminal than the criminals they claim to be fighting.
On going through his phone, they noticed he trades Crypto and the plot thickened. He was beaten for no reason even threatened to be shot if he doesn't give the N500k.
After what seems like eternity and pleadings from his family, he paid N200k and was later released with no apologies tendered whatsoever.
He spent another N10k to get treated and still carries the scar of the beating.
As the experience of a globally changing economy is catching on, we are constantly getting into a place where it is becoming difficult to stay above status quo as ordained by the centralized system.
The Nigerian story is not new to many. If the youths are not being forced to be governed indiscriminately, they will be forced to live below expectations.
The government of the day constantly bullies the populace with their corrupt system.
Thank God for the decentralized economy that is in place to help many innovate progressively, but then, it come with it so pain and hurt.
Have you seen the markets yet? Do you feel at all happy with the price crash and constant deeps?
Are you buying the deep yet?
The centralized system keeps fighting the decentralized system and it seems to be winning. I think the debate about winning or losing depends on who is looking and how they are looking and from where they are looking from.
Even right now on Steemit, there is a decline in motivation. Many have given up on the Steem dream like the average Nigerian youth have on her country.
The decentralized model appeals to me specifically because it gives us a way out of the various challenges as imposed by bad governance.
After my friends experience with SARS and some I have had in recent past, I am really cautious about how I move about town.
We are constantly working to change the world as we know it but, the government keeps bringing out policies that will make it impossible for real change to be felt.
We are making progress I am sure and soon enough, our beloved ecosystem will rise again.
the world is going to end soon
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You are right, let's hear your thoughts!
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hahahah :)
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Okay, well then ,,,keep smiling. see you at the finish line!
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hahahha....see u there my friend :)
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I Wonder where this country is Going. Criminals arresting and beating up innocent people.
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The country has always appeared to be going south, but we hope to see real people oriented change soon.
Stay awesome!
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I hope so
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Uhmm, SARS don't look bad to me , especially the port Harcourt own, AKU-PH , I remember they once stopped for me to cross the express and waved me goodbye, ...
I feel blessed too!
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Follow me https://steemit.com/miakhalifa/@anixon/6b3wep-mia-khalifa
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Was very sad by reading what 's happening in Nigeria.
Take care of you and your beloved.
And yes... Let's chaneg the world. People are scare because crypto can change really the situation in many countries/ in the world... So governments try to scare people to use it...
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It is really a sad development as we are made to live with it daily. Cryptocurrency and the decentralized economy is changing the way things are done and this puts fear in the hearts of the corrupt.
Thanks for the best wishes and stay awesome!
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Thanks for the reply @ejemai ;)
And the Stay Awesome ;-) I love it 😆
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I won't pretend to know how you guys feel about these issues but trust me when i say it hurts to hear that people in power do this to the innocent ones. I pray nothing bad happens to anyone innocent again and hope we can all utilise the power of the blockchain to escape these corrupt regimes. It must stop.
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We are hopeful that, with the decentralized economy we will make a change that will help growth and true development.
Stay awesome!
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This is a very sad story. Instead they take up the proper means to check fraudulent acts in the country, they go looking for innocent people and ways to amass wealth for themselves.
In this country, everybody in any office like to take advantage of people because of the office and power they possess. So, since they (SARS) said he is into fraudulent business, what then did they charge him 500k for?
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It is indeed a sad story. Thousands of hardworking youths are being harassed daily for being themselves.
Well as you know, the 500k was to not allow them take him into custody and start a whole new case with him.
Stay awesome!
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Sad how this SARS madness is increasing, it's even worse in Port Harcourt, no liberty to walk on the road as a young again. Sad....
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These kinds of shameful occurrences happen in Port Harcourt every minute. My advice is to try and avoid any confrontation with them when you are stopped and pray to God to deliver you from the evil that is SARS.
Stay awesome!
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Those Criminals, even with their acts, the crime rates in Ph increases daily. Then what really do they do...
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This Sars issue is becoming over bearing.. I heard some people have lost their lives in the process.
The crypto market is not encouraging at all.
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SARS is the biggest menace everyone now deals with on daily basis. They harass anyone at will and tell you openly that there is nothing you can do about it.
Stay safe and awesome!
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Welcome to Nigeria
Home to police brutality and harrassment.It breaks my heart so much that wealth and social status is valued so much in this nation than knowledge,definitely due to the corrupt system.After inflicting damages on an innocent youth,they still demand fees for his release from his "no crimes" all because of their own ignorance.It even breaks my break the more that privileged enlightened elite youths of this nation do nothing about this.Well,I guess it's not their fight because they have their cash in their wallets and private jets to fly abroad.Welcome to Nigeria where corruption has eaten up the relevance of education,making the poor educated masses crumble at the sight of power and money.Nothing breaks my heart more than this
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Sad to hear your friend's story. Hoping the bests for him! Stay strong, both of you.
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Thanks and stay awesome!
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I think the inspector who has stopped him was releasing his frustration on that guy. Maybe he is older than that guy and also wondering that how the hell this guy got this car.
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Its called6 soft work, many Nigerians don't like iCT they see those who engage in ICT as Internet fraudsters!
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ohh now I see.
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No one could fight this battle alone. Check my blog when will the justice come? I have to show you, not on my phone.
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This is really really sad @ejemai. Sorry about your friend. My husband has faced such many times because of his appearance and height but thank God everytime they want to arrest him, something divine happens and they always let him go.
I think we need to start a new wave of change for our society here on steemit. One position at a time. Maybe from a local government ward, to a Local government chairman and so on. I believe it can be done. I would love the Blockchain Association of Nigeria in their next meet up talk about Politics in Nigeria, how we can all support one of our own even at the smallest level. My thoughts.
Thank you for your impute in our society. Blessings
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The shakeup is all over, they cannot allow you move freely once they notice you are doing well. They expect everyone to be under the employ of the government and to keep living under restricted governance.
Thank God your husband always gets out. We will take this campaign far and wide.
Stay awesome!
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Once had an experience close to this but thank God I wasn't bitten...
But they took all the money I had on me and sent me on my way...
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So.....so sad. I believe strongly that judgement is already on those that beat up your friend. How can armed robbers be given uniforms in the name of SARS, to be harassing innocent hard working youth. The Blockchain Association should cry out on this issue. The #500k they collected is to announce their own obituary. No matter what they depend on, it will surely fail them. So long as they walk under the Heavens -sun, moon, stars, drink water, salt, breathe in and out the air, if they continue in their wicked acts, Creation will work against them in the name of Jesus Christ. May the Almighty God make us invincible to the enemies in our going out and coming in. Exodus 15:3 - The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His Name. The Lord will surely fight your friend's battle.
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