The sudden rise of the Nigerian youth towards the fight to end SARS and police brutality in the country is a self realization towards achieving tye type of government they all deserve. The country has been under pressure for the past days under the unseemly backing down of this youth lead protest going on in the country.
Some of older people including the Rivers State Governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and other state governors in the country have since joined in the protest acknowledging the youths for realizing how much power they posse and taking the bold step to speak up without any form of bias or fear.
This outrageous protest is likeably an outburst of years of silent tormenting, bribing and general brutality of the general police to its citizens having youths as the main target.
During this protest, a lot of Nigerian youth seemed to have a sad tale to recall with the SARS division of the Nigerian Police either directly or indirectly hence the continuous chants to put an end to SARS and police brutality.
Is there any way an individual could save oneself from police brutality?
Definitely, their could have been a way to keep oneself off as a target. But then the Nigeria police as general bullies it’s citizen. Most times, citizens are bullied for their right simply because these citizens might have decided to not give out the usual “tip” to them.
If the Nigeria police could automatically name someone a thief simply by the way they dresses, then it’s obvious the whole federation should be ready to get bad names as well.
The Nigeria Police from time immemorial has never been held accountable for any misconduct. Innocent lives have been wasted and nothing has been done to investigate or brought the airing officer(s) to book. Talk about crimes and day light robbery, all these have been left unattended to by these men in uniform. But then, the way they pounce on people without driving license would leave one wondering if they are working for the Road Safety Corps.
A lot of manslaughter and abuse of power has been seen over the past years in the country and yet, the major terrorist groups in Nigeria (Boko-Haram, Herdsmen) has continue to operate without hindrance whatsoever by these men whose core duty is to protect the rights of the citizen and promote peace in the country.
With all these misconduct and misplaced priority pointed out, the major question any Nigeria citizen would ask is, “How then do one desist from any form of brutality from the Nigeria Police?”
In a country where there’s law and clear enforcement of these by laws, the above question would have been an unnecessary one. The reason is because these officers represents the civil authority of the government. They are majorly responsible for maintaining public order, safety, enforcing the law, preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal activities by a means called policing. So, there should be absolutely no need to worry as these men are civil rights defenders.
The reverse has been the case here, as they are neither found or seen carrying out these civil duties rather they prey on young adults extort money from them by laying false allegations or forced charges to them at some point bearing or terrorizing them into accepting to be a criminal or an accomplish. What a shame!
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad widely known as SARS in Nigeria which is a sub unit of the Nigeria Police just like it’s mother unit follows the exact footstep with higher rates of brutality and inhumane acts to the citizens it was meant to protect from criminals and or arm robbers.
Answering the question above, the only way to save oneself from these sorts of brutality are:
1. Join the youth in their massive peaceful protest and continue to demand for justice until the Federal government gives a listening ear to the reformation of the Police and a total end to SARS.
2. Secondly, the Federal government should make a law that forbids Police from brutalizing a suspect. They should learn to treat a suspect as innocent until there’s a total evidence that proves otherwise.
3. Equally the law should also contain lose of job, salary, position and entilement to any officer that kills a civilian either by mistake or not.
4. Finally, there should be an implementation of posting officers to their home town. This is obviously important. Officers should be allowed to serve in their hometown because this way, they are already familar with folks and citizens there. This will create a highly conducive environment and make the once abstract “police is your friend” ideology a reality.
Police officer who serve in their hometown would automatically desist from bullying his town people since they are his neighbours, relatives, family friends and church members.
If and only if these are implemented would there be a stop to the inhumane police brutality in the country!
