In early October a video went viral on social media showing a SARS officer allegedly attacking a man in Delta State. The video was shared massively online, and thousands of citizens started telling their own stories of police abuse.
SARS is the abbreviation for the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a Nigerian Police Unit tasked over the past three decades with fighting violent crimes, including banditry and kidnapping.
Some Nigerians hit the streets to demonstrate for the repeal of the SARS, which has been accused of unlawful detention, extortion and extra-judicial killings. As part of the protest, a campaign has been launched on social media with the hashtag “EndSARS.”
Bowing to the pressure of the people, President Muhammadu Buhari announced on October 11 that SARS would be dissolved with immediate effect.
He said the move was “only the first step” in more extensive reforms to Nigeria’s police force. A new SWAT unit was announced to replace SARS, with the promise that it will be “ethical”.
The government said police abuse will be investigated and prosecuted, but these announcements have not appeased the protesters.
After the government announced the unit would be dissolved, thousands of mainly young protesters have stayed out on the streets pushing for genuine change in the country.
On Monday, a crowd of people stormed a prison in Benin City and freed about 200 inmates. Protesters have also attacked police stations and vehicles in various parts of the country.
There was a violent crackdown by the police on some of the protesters. At least, 10 people were killed and hundreds injured, according to Amnesty International.
The brutal response drew even more people onto the streets and emboldened the protesters to push their demands further.
‘Tell me, where we will run to after making our motherland a bitter place to live?’ These are not words from the bible or a quotation from a philosopher, but a rhetorical question in a song from a renowned Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Livingstone Etse Satekla, known in showbiz as Stonebwoy, titled ‘Run Go.’
For the purpose of this piece, we agree with the song writer when he asked where we would run to after making our motherland a bitter place to live.
This question resonates deeply with the current ruckus in Nigeria, which has led to the shooting to death of some citizens.
If the protesters continue to destroy what is left of their country, where will they live afterwards? Perhaps, this has not occurred to them.
For us at The Chronicle, we are saddened by the events in the country and strongly condemn the use of violence in no uncertain words.
We are very much alarmed because of the relationship between Ghana and Nigeria, and the overall impact on the economies of both countries. It cannot be overemphasised that if peace does not prevail in Nigeria, Ghana will suffer in the long run, considering the fact that Ghana has become a safe haven for Nigerian citizens.
We do not, in any way, support the unleashing of mayhem on the unarmed citizens by the security forces or vice versa.
However, the protesters need to be heard. Their concerns must be addressed in an amicable manner to end the atrocities. On the other hand, the protesters must also respect the law and be mindful that attacking state installations is unlawful.
What is happening in Nigeria, with the call for change by the citizens, refreshes our minds on something the first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, once said.
According to him: “If change is denied or too long delayed, violence will break out. It is not that man planned or willed it, but it is their accumulated grievances that shall break out with volcanic fury.”
We have carried on our front page today President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urging Nigerians to refrain from resorting to violence in resolving the impasse. He is quoted to have said: “Violence, be it on the part of the police or protesters cannot be the solution.”
The Chronicle agrees with President Akufo-Addo, who is also the Chairman of the Economic of West Africa Countries (ECOWAS).
In a statement yesterday, signed by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, ECOWAS appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian youth, and civil society groups to urgently pursue dialogue for an early and amicable resolution of this social unrest, and maintain the Nigerian image as a bastion of law and order.
Above all, we are calling for more attention from the international community before it is too late. The United Nations, Africa Union (AU) and ECOWAS must step in quickly by any means possible to help solve the situation in Nigeria.
The post Editorial: Nigeria Needs Attention Now! appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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