Popular Nigerian skit maker, Debo Adebayo, better known as Mr Macaroni, has opened up about a traumatic experience he had with the police during his arrest in February 2021. The entertainer, who is known for using his platform to advocate for justice and accountability, revealed the shocking details of his detention and the threats he faced while in police custody. His revelation comes amid the suspension of Wale Ajetunmobi, Senior Special Assistant on Print Media to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, following controversial statements he made online.
Ajetunmobi’s now-deleted post claimed that some of the individuals responsible for burning down Television Continental (TVC) during the #EndSARS protests had been “hunted and executed.” This comment stirred widespread outrage, with many Nigerians calling for a thorough investigation into the matter. In response to the controversy, Mr Macaroni took to social media, where he recounted his own disturbing experience with law enforcement during the 2021 protests and questioned the lack of accountability for similar incidents.
Mr Macaroni shared a harrowing encounter from his time in police custody, detailing a police officer’s threat to kill him if he was not popular. The skit maker explained, “One [officer] said to me: ‘Olorun yo iya e pe o Loruko. A ba ti fi Emi yin sofo danu… E fe ma da Ijoba lamu abi.. o je fun ara e ni brain,’” which translates to: “God save your mama, say you get name. We for don waste all of una for here… na una wan dey worry govt ba? You better give yourself brain.”
The comedian was quick to point out that such threats and abuses were never investigated. “This was never investigated. But why would it be? Why investigate the dehumanization or supposed intimidation that is supposed to work in your favor?” he asked rhetorically. His post highlighted the inconsistency in how law enforcement handles matters of public concern, especially when it involves individuals who are seen as critical of the government.
In his message, Mr Macaroni also criticized the authorities’ failure to take action against those who threatened and intimidated voters before the 2023 elections. “Before and after elections, we had people come out with their full chest, with weapons… threatening and intimidating voters. No action was taken!!! But why? Why take action against oppression tactics that work for you?” he questioned. The entertainer’s remarks pointed to the lack of accountability and the persistent culture of impunity within the political system.
The comedian went further to reference another media aide to Governor Sanwo-Olu, who had openly displayed bigotry during a public appearance. Mr Macaroni expressed his dismay at how such behavior went unchallenged by the government, stating, “There was another media aide of the Governor that left the media and proudly took bigotry to the streets. That act and many more of such was never condemned and discouraged!!! Of course, anything to win!!!”
He lamented the state of the nation, where political figures and their supporters use divisive tactics to further their own agendas. “We have allowed politicians who do not give a damn about us to use their sycophants to sow seeds of hate amongst us. We can no longer engage ourselves without diatribe. Bigotry has become the order of the day,” he said. Mr Macaroni condemned these actions, calling them shameful and harmful to the fabric of Nigerian society.
In his post, the entertainer made a pointed remark about the lack of effective investigations into issues of national importance, referencing past failures by the Lagos State government. “I would say that I hope this statement by the media aide to the Governor is investigated, but I laugh at the thought of it. I laugh in the last investigation panel set up by the Lagos State Government itself. We all know how that ended… don’t we? LOL,” he wrote, sarcastically dismissing the possibility of meaningful action being taken.
The post, which garnered significant attention, highlights the ongoing tension between activists and government officials in Nigeria. Mr Macaroni’s comments suggest a growing frustration with the inability of the authorities to address human rights abuses and hold individuals accountable for their actions, particularly when those individuals are connected to the political elite.
This latest exchange comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with issues of police brutality, corruption, and political unrest. The #EndSARS protests, which began in 2020, exposed the deep-seated problems within the country’s law enforcement system, and many Nigerians are still waiting for justice and accountability for those who lost their lives during the protests.
