“They Are Taking Me To Jail!”: A close call with a corrupt cop.
Sometimes, especially in the days before the Christian man Obasinjo was elected president of Nigeria, policemen, soldiers and other officials made their living by extortion and robbery. The practice seems to be decreasing, although, as in all countries, stealing continues. One morning, I was on my way to teach a minister’s seminar. The uniformed officers stopped us at gunpoint on a “hum-bug” pretense. They had seen the “oyinbo”, that is, the white man. Almost everyone in Africa believes that if one is white, that they are also very rich, with enough money to surely share with them. The officer jerked opened the back door of the car in which I am riding, and settled himself down comfortably in the back seat of the car, beside my travel bag containing my tickets, passport, tape recorder, camera, etc. Now, see if you can picture the situation: When I go to Nigeria, I have been advised to grow my white beard, as the people respect the beard, and they respect one more if the beard or hair is white or grey. As a matter of convenience, and comfort, and to relate lovingly to the people, I also dress in the native tie dyed simple cotton clothing.
Then the officer sneered at me, and said in a gruff and threatening voice: “Eh heh! What are we going to do with you now? Should we take you down to de station, orrrrr, what do you have, for me?!” Immediately I knew that down at the station, they need for them to have the Gospel preached there, as well, so I was willing to go there. I can have a direct and penetrating gaze, so, with my beard, and my clothing and my Lord, I turned round and looked him full in the face and said in a loud booming bass voice, and in Nigerian English, “We ah een de hahnz of God!” (“We are in the hands of God!”) A look of fear came to the face of the officer, and he hurried to get out of the car, and he said, “Go yo way!” The Bible says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Heb 10:31 Perhaps the officer gentleman did not like the thought of being in the hands of God.