Opinion: Could the disband of SARS suggest a move towards Police Reform?

Since the institution of the Nigeria police force in 1930, there may have never been any time the police ought to receive more criticism on civilian brutality than now. Despite that, the Inspector General of police may have previously inrush some regulation restricting the officers of the federal special anti-robbery squad's illegal operations which have led to manhandling of the citizens leading to the unfortunate demise of young and innocent Nigerians. The criticism may have been so much intense this time even surprisingly prompting some top Europeans and Americans to join the call to end SARS in Nigeria.
"they now fight us instead of fighting for us" a respondent replied.
Why ending SARS now?
The call to end the activities of the once prestigious special anti-robbing squad became a national call because the earliest same call may not have properly monitored as supposed. Given, their mandate which should be a special tactical operation on arm-robbery or arms involving criminal activities but the case became a different one over time. Now the call to disband SARS has been answered? Does it mean vulnerability await ahead? SRAS scrapping may be riskier now. Although, there may have been so much time public's eye had caught the brutality of the citizens by SARS. Can the public cope with the ever crime-infested society like Nigeria without the fearsome crime-rebelling SARS? The call may be more or less a distraction to public peace. OR is it a stepping forward to police reformation?

The People's View

A survey from nine states including Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, Abuja, Bayelsa, Delta, Niger, Kogi and Kano after scrapping of SARS selected randomly with a sample of 250 persons. Showed that 78 females and 172 male responded to the survey. With 85% respondents supporting the move to end SARS aged below 35 years while 15% were not in support also 79% supporting the end of the activities of the SARS aged above 35 years with 21% were not in support of the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.



What are they saying?
SARS! Actually, a name was made now the name is gone. What about some of the good jobs they may have done? – Baba, Niger.
"They were at some time the hope that we ever called for, but the outcry of brutality and intimidation was too much'' – Andrew, Rivers.
"The youths were at the front of the revolt. It's difficult that we yield to their request to end SARS" – anonymous
"The public may have waited for so long for reform. They may never stop because the voice became the duty of some human right activists. The intimidations were so much that the eyes of the public caught every act of SARS. Reports against the brutality and deaths caused by SARS was becoming alarming. We could not bear it anymore" – Ajibade, Lagos.
What are they demanding?
The interest of these protesters needs to be recognised now because the protest may not be ending anytime soon. The time for blame shouldn't come now as blame game tends to manifest soonest. What could be the demand of these protesters even after the disband of SARS and possibly introducing a new police tactical unit "SWAT". This is no doubt a fear to them that the new police unit was just a renamed of an embattled SARS other than a step towards police reformation. The government and Nigeria police force may have to be blamed for such a nasty quick decision by introducing a new police tactical unit as same as SARS. Or how about now that the protest has shifted the trend to demand once again an end to the newly formed SWAT, would the police also answer the call to end SWAT? The demands of these protesters are becoming huge but seem simple to deal with. The demand is an assurance of the once acclaimed slogan of "POLICE IS YOUR FRIEND IN NIGERIA". The trauma of police brutality still lives actively in their mind. If the assurance of police reform isn't achieved now then the worst should be expected. The government and the Nigeria police force should start concerning the demand by once again answering the call of their new demand. The police reform may be a step far away if this new call isn't answered but could be a step toward the expected police reform should the government consider the public interest as their top priority.

by Richardson Akuebionwu