So yesterday morning I'm leaving home to go to work. Then I get stopped by this elderly looking dude. Initially, he expects me to come over, but I stand my ground, so he leaves his entourage (three young men and a woman) and comes over. He takes his time walking up to me, then introduces himself as the Baale of the area.
He then proceeds to tell me how things are done around this area. Each building pays a monthly fee of N1000 to him for the security around the area. That means that I have to pay N250 (there are four flats in my building). Do I have the money now?
As respectfully as I can (my blood is boiling), I tell him that I don't have money on me, but that I would speak with my housemates when I return from work, I will speak with them so we can all bring our share.
Fat chance I think. S finally contributed his share for the water pump when both M and myself coincidentally took off for a week at the same time. Because the pump was wired to M's place, S did not have water until M returned. The next day he brought his 'donation'.
Back to the 'Baale'...
I also informed him that I think it would be wrong for me to pay individually since I believe in a united front. He thanks me for my reasonableness and then dismisses me. I go off for my appointment.
This morning as I'm preparing to leave the house, I see M, so I ask him about this Baale fellow. He lets out a long hiss and tells me that such things are the man's stock in trade. The man is apparently a professional con artist who lives off of the people in the area. His specialty is demanding money to get things done. Things that would have gotten done anyway, and this is how M found that out...
One day there was a major rain storm and the power lines got snapped. Unfortunately this storm happened on a Friday night, so there was no power over the weekend. However, by the time the residents returned from work the following Monday, power had been restored. Then on Tuesday before each person could leave for work, this Baale fellow was there (personally) with his entourage collecting N1000 from each individual because according to him, that was what the NEPA officials demanded to get the job done. M knows someone in NEPA, so he made a call, and the NEPA man screamed. They had come to do their work, and did not take a kobo from anyone.
Since that day, M has not given a kobo to the Baale, and all has been well with the world.
Hearing this story, I now know exactly what this is. It is the classical protection racket. "Give us money so you don't get hurt. If you don't give us the money, you might (will) get hurt and we will (might) do nothing about it."
This unfortunately puts me in a sad dilemma.
Because of the nature of my job, I come home late each evening. That exposes me a lot more than it does M, S or P, the other guy in my building. What is the possibility of getting car jacked if I refuse to bow to this obvious attempt at extortion? My first impulse is not to bow, and let me tell you why...
If I pay the N250, where does it stop? The 'Baale' and his people would come with more and more (and increasingly) outrageous demands. That is how protection rackets work, and once you have bent, you would keep bending.
What would you do?
5 comments:
250 Naira isn't that big a deal. Give him this time, but make it clear that unless you see an improvement in security in that area, you will not pay anything in future.
That means you look out for security guards, vigilantes, etc. If they aren't there, you have all the grounds to reuse to pay anything more.
So give him the money with that warning. I myself stopped paying for security in my area when the guards posted to my estate gate left.
Chxta, this is the first time I'd comment here cos reading that piece I'm almost sure you know what to do......stand up for what you think you believe in. Don't all mortals come to this point where you have to bend a little and finally want to blame others for causing you to do the unholy act. If you give him, you bow to it on your own terms. If you refuse with a clear consience and probably saying to yourself...'let this the first thing I'd do right based on my changing principles'....then so let it be. Life and its acts are purely games, puzzles and riddles...solve each one with what you think best serves as an option when faced with it. Good luck with your 'Baale'
report him to the police, afterall they are there for our protection. and if anything happens to you, then they know who to arrest.
report him to the police, afterall they are there for our protection. and if anything happens to you, then they know who to arrest.
get hold of a military officer soldier or some such and let the guy come home with you a couple of times make sure the baale or some of his guys see this, make sure they realise u and the guy are good friends - basically make a show of the fact that you know some tough guys who you can call upon to fk him up if it comes to that. thats the language these people understand, imho
Post a Comment