"How Can You Lose a License You Collected?" – BBNaija’s Phyna Laments Bizarre Encounter With Nigerian Police

In a bizarre and frustrating twist that many Nigerians might sadly find all too relatable, reality TV star and BBNaija season 7 winner, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has taken to social media to share a disturbing encounter with officers of the Nigerian Police Force — one that ended with her driver’s license mysteriously vanishing into thin air while still in the possession of a police officer.

On Sunday night, Phyna, known for her unfiltered personality and bold takes online, revealed via her official X (formerly Twitter) handle that she had been stopped during a routine police stop-and-search. While this is nothing unusual on Nigerian roads, the situation took a dramatic and head-scratching turn when, after checking her car, the officer who had taken her license was suddenly unable to return it.

“Last night the Nigeria police stopped me and did their regular stop and search,” Phyna wrote. “He was with my driver’s licence. After my boot was checked, I asked for my driver’s licence… Na there problem start. He couldn’t find it, we searched everywhere, we couldn’t find my licence.”

What followed, according to the media personality, was nearly two full hours of frantic searching alongside the officers — but to no avail. The driver’s license was simply gone, swallowed into the mysterious vortex of Nigerian roadside policing.

“All I was hearing from them was ‘I’m very sorry, I’m very sorry,’” she said. “Now I don’t know where to start from.”

The situation has drawn outrage and concern from fans, followers, and average citizens alike, with many questioning how such a critical document could just disappear — especially while it was still in the hands of the officer who requested it.

“And you leave there... What if dem use ham do something?” one concerned user, Daniel (@Daniel376538), replied under her post — a sentiment that captures the prevailing anxiety many Nigerians feel about identity theft and the possibility of criminal impersonation, especially when it involves sensitive government-issued documents.

The incident has sparked a broader conversation online about accountability, abuse of power, and the daily unpredictability of dealing with law enforcement in the country. It isn’t the first time a celebrity or influencer has had a run-in with officers on Nigerian roads, but it is perhaps one of the most blatantly careless — or suspicious — tales in recent memory.

What makes Phyna’s experience even more jarring is that this wasn’t a case of resistance, aggression, or wrongdoing on her part. She complied with the stop, followed instructions, and even participated in the search for the missing license. Yet, she still walked away empty-handed — not because she forgot it or lost it, but because the very people tasked with enforcing the law simply couldn’t account for her property.

“Imagine going through all that and still leaving without your license,” one user commented. “This country will humble you every day.”

Another user asked, “So who takes responsibility now? Does she have to start the process of replacing her license all over again — and at whose cost?”

That’s a question yet to be answered. Phyna did not disclose whether she intends to file a formal complaint or escalate the matter with higher police authorities. But her ordeal once again puts a spotlight on the troubling lack of accountability within some units of the Nigerian Police Force — and the emotional toll it takes on innocent citizens just trying to move from point A to point B.

Beyond the inconvenience of replacing a driver’s license — which in Nigeria, involves lengthy queues, multiple visits to licensing offices, unnecessary bureaucracy, and often, unofficial charges — there’s the deeper concern of what could become of the missing ID.

“Identity theft is real,” cybersecurity expert Tunde Akinlade shared in response to the story. “That license contains full name, date of birth, address, and other sensitive data. If it falls into the wrong hands, it can be used for impersonation, bank fraud, or worse.”

It’s unclear if Phyna has taken any steps to secure herself from possible fallout — such as reporting the incident to the FRSC or applying for a red flag on the license. But many of her fans have urged her to do so quickly, given the unpredictable nature of such situations in the country.

This isn’t the first time Phyna has found herself in the news for speaking up. Known for her outspoken views on everything from celebrity hypocrisy to societal issues, she’s gained a reputation for being one of the more authentic voices in Nigerian entertainment. And once again, her willingness to share even uncomfortable personal experiences like this one has shed light on issues that thousands of Nigerians go through but don’t have the platform to voice.

The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the viral post or issue a statement regarding the matter. But as the comments pile up and the outrage grows, it’s clear that the public is watching — and waiting for answers.

For now, the reality TV queen is left with nothing but apologies, confusion, and the burden of starting the license replacement process all over again. A simple drive turned into a two-hour ordeal, and a regular stop-and-search ended in absurdity. It’s a reminder that in today’s Nigeria, even your ID isn’t safe — not in your pocket, and apparently, not even in the hands of law enforcement.

As one user aptly put it, “Only in this country can you hand someone your license and still be told, ‘Sorry, we can’t find it.’”

Phyna’s experience has become yet another chapter in the growing book of everyday Nigerian tragedies — the kind that aren’t life-threatening but are certainly life-draining. Whether this incident will be swept under the rug or lead to reforms in how stop-and-search operations are handled remains to be seen.

But one thing is clear: Phyna may have walked away without her license, but she walked away with a story — one that millions will relate to and one that might just spark the change Nigerians are long overdue for.