For the past two weeks, thousands of Nigerian youths have been on the streets demanding an end to police brutality, disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police and comprehensive police reforms. The protests have paralysed activities and disrupted traffic on major roads in many cities. In places where vehicular movements are not disrupted, residents battle with gridlock, especially in Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In saner environments, the President of the country would have by now come out openly to address the youths and the nation, since their demands are legitimate and for the good of the country. Alas, that has not been the case. The highest we have seen and heard were Buhari speaking in a recorded social media and narratives from his aides like the one Minister for Youth and Sports Development Sunday Areh gave on Monday.
In a nation experiencing chaos and youth restiveness, what would it cost Mr. President to address the protesting youths directly? All that President Buhari needs to do is to appeal to the conscience of the youths by saying something like this, “My dear children (not Fellow Nigerians), I have heard your complaints and demands. They are genuine and as a father, with children of your age, I know how painful it is to lose loved ones or to be extorted by the Policemen who ordinarily should protect the citizens.
I have already directed that the SARS be disbanded, which has been done, I will go a step further to ensure that all police officers found guilty of culpable homicide, extortion and other crimes are brought to book. I plead with you to give my government a few months to sort out the issue. Meanwhile, a social media platform would be set up for all the aggrieved persons to lodge their complaint. I assure you that anybody found guilty of human rights abuse would be made to face the wrath of the law”.
Words such as these if uttered by Mr. President himself would certainly calm frayed nerves and return peace to our nation. But why Buhari has refused to tow this path of wisdom remains difficult to explain. Even the Senate in plenary on Tuesday advised him to address the nation on the lingering crisis.
Some of the youths have hinged their continued protest on the basis that Buhari must address their demands. It is common knowledge that the Nigerian Police have a culture of unending brutality. This is not the first time they will be disbanded. The protest is a result of distrust. No police officer has been arrested or brought out for Justice. Where is the sincerity of processes? Governor Sanwo-Olu visited the president to explain the plight of Nigerians to him but he laughed it off. It shows the unseriousness of the president.
Despite the disbandment of SARS, protesters are still being attacked under the supervision of the police. Young people want to live and it is important for everyone to speak. The demands are not being met. The culture of brutality has not stopped and the youth are saying they don’t want to be sold out anymore. Although police brutality has been with us for years, the latest outcry was ignited by the shooting of a youth in Delta State by police officers. The police later reacted, saying the victim did not die, and that the protesters also killed a police officer. As a result of the incident, social and political activists together with celebrities called on Buhari and demanded the scrapping of SARS.
For the first week, the hashtag #EndSARS garnered the highest tweet across the world. Many Nigerians in diaspora also joined the protest, calling for an end to police brutality and total overhaul of the security outfit. To douse the tension, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, announced the ban of the anti-robbery squad from operating on the roads. But citizens were not pacified by the announcement, citing instances when such directives have been given in the last four years.
Since this week, the protests have taken an ethnic dimension-North against South, Fulani against the other tribes. Hired thugs (hoodlums) armed with dangerous weapons now parade the streets of Lagos and Abuja attacking innocent and defenceless youths engaging in peace demonstrations. The police see them and look the other way. This is very unfortunate and should be condemned in its totality. While some of the demonstrators were dispersed with teargas by the police, a protester identified as Jimoh Isiaka, was shot in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. He later died. In Apo Abuja on Monday, a car mart was burnt. The following day Tuesday, the Orile Iganmu Lagos police station was also burnt down by the same hoodlums. So far, over 15 persons have been reported killed amidst the protests.
Police brutality, especially by the now defunct Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, was at a scary level until this strong movement against it. Extra-judicial killings were being treated like the norm in a sane society; and victims’ families were left helpless, most times, in situations where killer officers were shielded by superior accomplices. It is only in order for people to rise and say ‘Enough is Enough.” We urge the youths not to be intimidated by enemies of the nation in their struggle for the realisation of a near ideal society. We also call on president Buhari to immediately address the youths in a nationwide broadcast as well as set machinery in motion to ensure that their demands are genuinely met. The youths have started a revolution that their parents have shied away from. We only need to tread cautiously before it becomes another Arab Spring.
