Nigerians have sternly criticised the Delta State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, for wearing an earring.
The criticism comes after Edafe was seen wearing an earring in a picture he shared on his X page on Saturday.
Asking if he is also a ”criminal,” like his colleagues allegedly stereotype male civilians who wear earrings and have tattoos, Nigerians, in a series of comments on social media, mentioned that a law enforcement agent should not be dressed like the policeman.
Reacting to Edafe’s pictures, popular social media critic Daniel Regha mentioned that Edafe’s outfit ”is not a look befitting of a Nigerian police officer.”
He alleged that youths are victimised by the Force for wearing earrings; as such, the police PRO should lead by example.
Regha said, ”A married policeman, an SP for that matter, is wearing earring(s), but if a youth is seen doing the same, they will be stopped, probably questioned, and likely harassed. In terms of physical appearance, you are ok, but this is not a look befitting of a Nigerian police officer. Stick to the airpods and glasses; that’s more than enough. No offence.”
This publication highlights below more reactions by Nigerians to Edafe’s earring picture.
Yemi Ashimolowo, ”Just like a police officer smoking igbo but feels arresting an igbo smoker is the norm since he is a police officer. What a country called Nigeria.”
Chinwe Agatha, ”One day we’ll talk about how unprofessional police officers and civil servants in general are. No etiquette or code of conduct. All they know is oppression.”
Loven, ”This is very unfair of you because it is actually true. Police officers will harass or even use this as a suspicion to stop and question random guys with earrings.”
Mamatii, ”Under normal circumstances, the etiquette of your job doesn’t permit the wearing of earring. You are a mirror to the public, especially as a policeman occupying such an esteem position. You are handsome and look great without it. Even in our culture, a man with earrings is believed to be a fraudster and irresponsible.”
Vulcan, ”Your officers at Okpella and Ekpoma always search me with suspicion of me being a fraudster because of my earring and my dreadlocks. But look at you wearing an earring.”
Oriretan Honour, ”Edafe, it’s unwise wearing earrings, forgetting you’re a police officer. More unwise being a husband, dad, yet promoting indecency and immorality since wearing earrings by men isn’t part of Nigerian or African culture.
”Avoid influencing youths to do the same so your officers won’t catch and tag them. Yahoo boys since is one of these quickest signs being used. Mind what you do on and off uniform as an influencer. I hope you won’t flaunt tattoos on your body soon. Be wise. Don’t be unwise.
Habibi, ”Police Officer that handles his phone better than his gun. Where do I start from?
”The fact that 60–70% of your duty is making posts and unreasonable comments on social media. We all know how you and your boys would harass any young youth putting on an earring. You’re lucky that Nigerian forces are not thoroughly investigated; we know what you do.”
Pansybng: ”A policeman wearing earrings in a country where they arrest tattooed citizens at random and tag them to be Yahoo boys should also be tagged a Yahoo officer.”
Chuks Marverick, ”Imagine a senior police officer adorning earrings. Same, you and your colleagues will see this on a young man and start having erections or adrenaline rush.”
Excellency, ”Hello Sir. I must commend your fashion sense, but let me point something out: the earrings are not bad, but it’s unfortunate that if you were not a police officer and you dress like this out there, your men will harass you. It’s terrible out there.”
Tokpaghoro, ”If you see a boy with earrings driving his Mercedes Benz, you will stop him and tag him Yahoo Boy, but the same you put on earrings. I know you can’t afford it; it’s the one you collected from Yahoo Boys.”
Munachimso, ”I was harassed by your colleagues for putting on a stud, but here you are wearing it. Hypocrites.”
