A Nigerian man, Wisdom Elijah, has taken to social media to share his harrowing experience of being arrested and sentenced to one year in prison over a pair of slippers—a revelation that has sparked a frenzy online.
In a viral video circulating on social media, Elijah recounted how an ordinary night out turned into a nightmare on January 6, 2024.
According to him, after closing from work, a friend invited him to a birthday party. On their way back, their tricycle ran out of fuel, leading them to stop at a nearby house where a woman sold fuel.
Unaware, he did not realize that his friend’s slippers had torn. Rather than informing him, the friend took a pair of slippers left outside, which belonged to the woman’s son, and walked away with them.
The woman immediately found out and raised an alarm, accusing them of theft. Despite his attempts to explain and apologize, her husband called the police, leading to their arrest.
Elijah revealed that he and his friend were detained in police custody for three days, thinking it was a minor issue, until they were taken to court in Port Harcourt, and the judge granted them N80k bail. He was unable to get the money while his friend was freed, and he remained in the prison and eventually spent a year.
He shared a video showing his critical health condition after his release. In the clip, he looked so lean and malnourished.
He recalled, “I drive Keke. On January 6, 2024, I closed from work, and a friend invited me to a birthday party. So, I carried him there. On our way back, my fuel finished, so I asked my friend to follow me to buy some from a woman in the area. After buying the fuel, my friend’s slippers got damaged, but he didn’t tell me. He just took the slippers at the front of the house, which belonged to the woman’s son.”
“As we were leaving, the woman called us back and realized what happened. I apologized, but she refused to listen and started calling us thieves. I stayed back, begging and explaining that it wasn’t intentional while cautioning my friend. But before I knew it, her husband called the police, and we were arrested.”
“We spent three days at the station, thinking it was a small matter. My friend was freed, but I was still in prison because I do not have a phone and any family in Port Harcourt.”
Watch the video below (sw
The video triggered massive reactions as social media users shared their thoughts via the comment section. Some reactions are shown below:
nma_posh_ said, “Oh God protect my going and coming. Any movement that will put me in trouble please cancel it for me. Any company,meetup, friends or family that will put us in problem do not let us meet them Amen. Let your angels lead the way Amen.”
amazing_clara said, “First of all that guy is not ur friend…A friend will come out and look for funds to bring you out and the family that called police did not also care to know if he was later released…..The prb of Nigeria is not only the politicians.”
trophy.bwoy said, “To ERR is HUMAN to FORGIVE is DIVINE 😢 That same woman go smile go church or mosque on the day of worship go worship GOD and ask GOD for forgiveness 😪😪 Tufia.”
iamproxper said, “Chai! I remember when I was a corper, we had to gather money to bail someone out from a correctional facility because of a gallon of oil that he was accused of stealing. The people inside prisons are people that don’t have nobody to bail them out and it’s always the smallest things. It’s just crazy I swear. I believe one day I’ll get a Foundation that’ll be able to bail people who have been charged & jailed because of frivolous acts and unnecessary fines attached to their sentence out from prisons and correctional facilities.”
trophy.bwoy said, “Nigerians complain about bad leadership but some Nigerians abuse power to the core .. so after they patronized her by buying fuel from her . she couldn’t even pardon them 😢😢.”
charlesahanonu said, “Guy people get heart o… Someone took my phone at the car wash with $100 note at the back I tracked the phone and got it but I couldn’t allow the police prosecute him talk more of slippers.. damnit… No human feelings.”
adiyafashionbag said, “For something he didn’t even do, when the main person was bailed😢😭😭.”