The Police Brutality Saga

“Police is our friend” but 99% of the time, you are left wondering what that means.

The protest against SARS is raging and taking on a life of its own. We are also saying “End Police Brutality”, as well as screaming for reform our systems. I confess that this is very laudable.

I’ve had cause to have Police escort me for a while. Even before then I was aware that their condition of service, just like every other government institution is quite appalling.

While I was in Service I tried within my ability to improve the working condition of my Agency and of course the personnel of the Force assigned to me.

If each one of us in a position of authority could think less of our greed and more of others and the institutions assigned to us, we would have model institutions we could all be proud of.

Now back to the Police and the clamour for better pay etc…sure it’s an great call but did any one have a conversation with those mean men and women first? Those that killed and maimed members of our families and friends over the years? Did they say it was their pay that compelled them to act in such irreversible way?

Okay, since their condition of service is poor, why did they stay on? Why didn’t they simply exit?

In response to people’s agitation the IGP disbands SARS, redeploys personnel to other Units of the Force and comes up with SWAT! All within a space of two days or so. It’s either IGP does not grasp the full import of what’s before him or he doesn’t care. I choose to go with the former. Who would explain to him please?

We need to ask some basic questions and obtain answers, even if it stays within our hearts. This is because, through these interrogations, we should be able to arrive at some better understanding of the issues confronting us.

The situation we find ourselves or that life deals us doesn’t make us. It only reveals us. So those criminal elements within the Force and in Society should be treated as such.

#SayNoToImpunity #NigeriaIsAGreatCountry