It has been more than six weeks since #EndSARS protests erupted nationwide, with youths across the country demanding an end to forms of brutality, especially from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). In city after city, from one state to the other, the protesters, in their numbers, through rallies and demonstrations energised by the social media, held on – well, until hoodlums and social miscreants got into the fray, leading to wanton looting, arson, in several incidents, attacks on security personnel.
In this report, 365’s Gabriel Atumeyi examines the impact of the uprising by the youths, and its concomitant effect on the conduct of men of the Nigeria Police, beyond the Lekki toll gate shooting, the disbandment of SARS and establishment of judicial panels, onto executive pronouncements and body language, the agitations – and mutual suspicion between the youths and security agencies festers – foreshadowing a possible repeat of the demonstrations.
Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari promised to do whatever it would take to ensure that there is no repeat of #EndSARS protests in Nigeria.
Speaking through the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, the President stated that the Federal Government would continue to dialogue with relevant “stakeholders” in ensuring peaceful and harmonious socio-economic environment across the country.
Similarly, three weeks ago, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, warned that the country may not escape another citizens’ restiveness in the form of #EndSARS because, to him, police brutality was not at the heart of the matter of the protests but rather, youth unemployment.
His counterpart, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaking recently, remarked that the call for effective policing would only be possible when officers prove to be accountable.
Notedly, in the heat of the #EndSARS protest, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, admitted and apologised for government’s perceived slow response to the youth agitation.
“There are far too many people who have been brutalised at the hands of the police and this is unacceptable. We must take responsibility for protecting young people, even sometimes from those who are paid to protect them,” Vice President Osibanjo had said.
Four days after the infamous Lekki shooting, he had told a visiting United States of America, USA delegation that the Federal Government’s proposed reform of the Police will be a game-changer in ensuring an end to impunity.
Old wine in new skin
But despite these strong and perhaps soothing words emanating from official quarters, the police appears yet unsure about to convince the Nigerian public that it has a new mandate, or better put, is now more conscious of its extant mandate of securing civil society in accordance with provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the rule of law as underlined by some recent incidences, including the chilling report of a Police officer who opened fire at a hotel bar where people were watching a football match in Ekiti state, killing in the process a young man who was having drinks with his friend.
Also penultimate week, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Popoola Kayode, leader of a Police Team operating around the Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos and his team members were arrested for allegedly collecting N100,000 bribe from one Didi Ekaenem, a Nigerian actress, after her car was impounded for driving against traffic.
Also, within the same period, a 29-year-old man, Gospel Gbaraka, was allegedly murdered by a police Inspector in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital. The police officer identified simply as James, is said to belong to the Marine Base Police Station at the Wharf area of the city, and was also a guard at the same company where the deceased, a graduate of Imo State Polytechnic, Owerri, was working.
The incident led the Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), to threaten mass action.
Similarly, some policemen were reported to have gone berserk and opened fire on traders at Tombia Market in Bayelsa State, after claiming that their trading activities led to traffic congestion that affected their passage through the area. The incident left four people terribly injured, one of them being a 17-year-old girl shot in her two legs, leaving her currently paralysed.
Added to these tales is the tragic shooting of a newspaper vendor on November 19, 2020, by a now suspended security aide of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila.
Though the indicted security personnel has been confirmed to be an officer of the Department of State Security (DSS), the public perceive the unprovoked killing as yet another manifestation of highhandedness by security operatives generally.
Going by the aforementioned, many seem convinced that it would take more than verbal commitments and change of nomenclature to drive the much touted Police reforms. Just like many analysts have stated, the change in the police and other law enforcement agencies, must start with the recruitment and training process.
Long road to end of Police brutality
Speaking to 365Daily, Jide Ojo, a writer and political analyst, pointed out that though police brutality is not likely to stop immediately, the possibility of more officers being held accountable for their actions henceforth would help ameliorate the situation.
“Well, you know the issue of police brutality is not something that will go just like that because there was a protest, but what that protest was geared at, is that there must be consequences for any act of brutality by the police.
“What that protest was geared at is that culprit(s) will be brought to justice and that is why I do understand that what can happen in the immediate run is de-escalation. There are 35 people whose names were forwarded by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for prosecution for acts of police brutality.
If they are able to make scapegoats of this 35 and the recommendation from the NHRC is upheld by the relevant agencies, it would send the right signals to the police and other security agencies that any act of brutality from their side would have dire consequences,” Ojo said.
Also speaking to 365Daily, Buhari Yusuf, a legal practitioner, said the problem with police brutality is that it is a two way street and as such, cannot be wished away as it is dependent on other factors in society as well as governmental commitment.
“The point here is that the Nigerian police is an element of what constitutes Nigeria, therefore, you don’t expect a different conduct from them and of course, Nigerian police have a nexus with the global police. A little bit of misbehaviour is associated even with the American police, we should not(therefore) expect a saint in Nigerian police uniform. But like I said at the beginning, what we have as Nigerian police is a reflection of the elements that constitute Nigeria. We are rating the police very high. We are judging the police better than the judges, better than the lawyers, better than the teachers, better than even the journalists.
“I think if the society improves, it will improve together with the police in its conduct and other things,” Yusuf said.
With the Inspector General of Police, IGP recently telling South South leaders at a parley with a Presidential delegation, that intelligence reports showed the #EndSARS protest was geared at removing him from office, it is apparent that they Police boss sings a tune different different from that of the Nigerian youth.
In the midst of the discordant tunes, what is glaring at the moment seems to be the fact that the masses have little faith that police brutality will soon be a thing of the past in the country.