Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the young man who gained nationwide attention in 2023 after standing boldly in front of Peter Obi’s campaign convoy, has recounted a chilling tale of police brutality, wrongful imprisonment, and dehumanising treatment while in custody at Kirikiri Prison.
Speaking during an emotional interview aired Monday on Channels Television, Alabi revealed he was framed by thugs in his neighbourhood, detained by the Divisional Police Officer of the Amukoko Police Division, and later remanded in prison over allegations of conspiracy and armed robbery.
“My duty in prison from morning till night was to clean faeces,” Alabi said, his voice cracking with emotion.
“Because I didn’t have money to give the wardens, they treated me like someone without a family. That was my daily punishment.”
Alabi, a motor boy who was delivering fish to Port Harcourt before his arrest, said he was ambushed by area boys who accused him of being involved in a fight he knew nothing about.
“I had just returned from work when I was grabbed by some area boys. They told the police I was part of a group that destroyed property and stole phones. I was arrested on the spot and locked up with elderly men I didn’t even know,” he narrated.
His troubles, he said, stemmed from his viral act of courage during the 2023 elections when he stood defiantly in front of Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s convoy — a moment that drew public admiration and support.
But the fame came at a price.
“After that campaign moment went viral, some people told my mum to share the money Peter Obi gave me,” Alabi said.
“They threatened to kidnap me if we didn’t comply. My mum refused. She asked if they would have shared the sorrow if I had been shot and killed in that moment.”
The refusal, according to Alabi, led to a deliberate plot by the area boys to frame him, culminating in his arrest and incarceration.
The prison experience, he said, left deep scars.
“I was in hell,” he recalled. “Nobody listened to me. I kept telling them I was innocent, but no one cared.”
Despite the trauma, Alabi said he is focused on rebuilding his life. He thanked Nigerians who supported him during his ordeal and expressed a strong desire to return to school and leave the toxic environment that contributed to his suffering.
“I want to become a better person. I want to leave the area because people have put an eye on me. But I’m ready to go back to school,” he said. “God will bless Nigerians for not forgetting me.”
Alabi’s story has rekindled concerns about systemic injustice, police abuse, and the plight of young Nigerians in underprivileged communities who often become victims of power, poverty, and politics.
While his viral act of bravery once symbolised the spirit of the youth in demanding change, his recent revelations now serve as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted issues that still plague the country’s justice system.
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