End Police Brutality in Nigeria

These past few days have been emotionally draining for me, I've just been taken aback by the stories of sheer callousness of the Nigerian Police and it is absolutely a must they hear the voices of those demanding for change. It's just so heartbreaking that it's coming at a time when we are all dealing with this global pandemic but there has to be a change, this brutality should not be tolerated or accepted as a normal.

Anyone reading this may or may not have any family or friends in Nigeria but for those of us who do, we are now more than ever checking and ensuring they are safe. I've been advising the men in my family to not wear dreadlocks or sport anything fancy as it might make them stand out as "possible criminals" ( those words sound so silly but it's a fact) even though they are well educated and upright citizens like those I have seen on the news articulately pleading their case while protesting peacefully on the streets of Nigeria!

The citizens have accepted that corruption is the only language their leaders speak and have decided to move on with their lives struggling to make something of it, most with a honest means of living, but you continue to intimidate and harass them. What more do you want from them, at least let them have peace and their very lives!

Why are we so cruel to one another, I just don't understand it!

I've been so overwhelmed by sadness watching these videos where police are whacking young people with heavy truncheons, stripping people of their clothing in the streets, even threatening to shoot and actually doing so! They leave them half dead, bloodied and brutalized, with their family rushing to get them to a hospital where they will possibly be turned away due to the terrible medical infrastructure that exist in Nigeria, only the rich and comfortable can access the best medical help easily.

This could happen to a loved one in any family.

My anger is towards the leaders in Nigeria, both in the government and the police force, they say one thing and do something totally different. They have allowed this go on for too long and they should be providing a clear explanation now as to what steps they are taking to address it differently. I don't think it's a name change people are demanding for.

SARS=SWAT!

There is total distrust of the government at the moment and knowing that, they should be looking at several ways to ensure they are appeasing the protesters and adequately addressing the concerns being raised, not putting hoodlums on the street to scare off the protesters, it will only make a bad situation worse.

Where are the police protecting protesters and trying to ensure a peaceful protest, that is one of their mandates after all!

A change for the better is all that is being asked. Families that have lost loved ones deserve to know their loved ones didn't die for nothing, let this change be for them and maybe the youths will begin to believe you (leaders) might have their best interest at heart!

Yes, there will be ‘bad eggs’ but this is a different matter! The 'hen' laying the eggs is already compromised, I mean those who call themselves leaders in the Nigerian police! There must be accountability for past misdeeds of SARS for there to be an honest and fair move forward.

Let me be clear, there must be an end to SARS and a reform and retraining of the Nigerian police force because we know they are essential to the society. They also have to identify those that need to be tried and prosecuted for criminal acts.

Most of the police officers are uneducated, underpaid, frustrated and hungry, yes hungry! This is enough to make them psychologically and mentally unstable or how else can you justify all these actions caught on video? Some do not even care if they are being recorded.

They can’t comprehend any young man using an iPhone, driving an expensive car, wearing expensive clothing or just looking good! They oppress citizens because they themselves are being oppressed! They know what corrupt practices their leaders engage in but since they can't speak out, for fear of reprisal, they let out their frustration on people they are meant to serve and protect. What they don’t get from their leaders they will demand from their fellow citizens.

That’s not how it should be.

I've never met anyone who was proud to say they have family members that worked in the Nigerian police force let alone SARS!

Fish rots from the head! Reform starts from the top!

Remove all the top enablers that have kept quiet while all these injustices were being done, they were neither blind nor deaf!

They should be asked to resign and let the government appoint a special counsel/panel to investigate their potential misconduct, then talk about police reform after that.

They shouldn't be the ones reforming anything, they should move aside and let fresh minds in.

#peaceandjustice

#righteousanger

#speakwithonevoice

#intelligencenotviolence