Quadri Yusuf Alabi, the young Nigerian who gained recognition during the 2023 general elections for his courageous act of standing in front of the campaign convoy of then-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has opened up about his harrowing experience in Kirikiri Prison, which he attributes to a false accusation.
In an interview broadcast on Channels Television on Monday, Quadri detailed how his life took a drastic turn following his moment of heroism. He was arrested and imprisoned after allegedly being set up by local thugs in his community.
“My job in prison from morning to night was to clean faeces,” he recounted with evident distress. “I was treated like someone without a family. I didn’t have money to give the wardens, so they left me in that condition. That was my daily punishment.”
Reflecting on the circumstances leading to his arrest, Quadri shared, “When the campaign happened in 2023, some people were telling my mum that the money Peter Obi gave me should be shared with them. They threatened to kidnap me if we didn’t share it.”
According to Quadri, his mother stood firm against these demands. “My mum told them it can’t be possible, that if her son, who stood in front of the car, had been shot, would they be asking for a share if I had died?”
The young man, who had previously been lauded for his bravery, stated that the attention he received during the campaign led to jealousy and threats from those around him. Unfortunately, this defiance came at a significant price. Quadri claimed he was ultimately handed over to the police by the very individuals who had threatened him, facing charges of conspiracy and armed robbery.
“I had just come back from work; I was a motor boy delivering fish to Port Harcourt. As I got to our street, I didn’t know a fight had broken out earlier. ‘Area boys’ grabbed me and told police, ‘See the boy.’ That’s how I was arrested,” he explained.
He recalled spending a week in a cell at the Amukoko Police Station before being transferred to prison, where his suffering intensified. “They locked me with four elderly men I didn’t know. The ‘area boys’ claimed I destroyed property and stole phones. I told them I was just coming from work, but they didn’t listen,” he said.
In Kirikiri Prison, Quadri described a dehumanising routine, forced to clean human waste each day without dignity or support. “Because I had no money to give to the wardens, they made me clean faeces every day. I was in hell.”
Despite the challenges he faced, Quadri has maintained a resilient and hopeful outlook. He expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their financial and emotional support during and after his imprisonment. “I want to thank Nigerians. God will bless them. People that are blessing me, God will not forget them too,” he stated.
“I’m ready to go back to school. I want to become a better person. I want to leave the area because people ‘have put an eye on my body (know me),” Quadri concluded.
