Nigerians are clearly divided over what should be done to SARS. Many Nigerians wanted SARS to be scrapped. Other Nigerians wanted SARS to undergo reformation. But one verdict stands out from what Nigerians in both divides wanted; SARS was evil and undesirable. What each divide wanted done to SARS was the bone of contention.
Ending SARS would signify the beginning of free rein for armed robbers, in whose jurisdiction SARS operations fell. But reforming SARS would mean that the existing structures in terms of nomenclature, personnel and operations be overhauled, made sane and efficient.
Despite the glaring shortcomings of the #endsars agitations and protests, understandable because of the harmless exuberance which characterized the agitations, inadvertent reforms have been brought to the operations of the Nigerian police. Attitude of the Nigerian police officers won’t ever remain the disdainful same to Nigerians. Henceforth, police officers will be truly friendly to Nigerians. Messages have been passed by Nigerians and lessons must have been learnt by the police that harassment and intimidation of Nigerians are an abhorrent. Nigerians want to be arrested decently and prosecuted lawfully even if they have run foul of the law. It’s now that bail will be truly free!
Impunity and recklessness are the old ‘normal’ for Nigerian police. It’s high time the police embraced the new normal of decency and professionalism, which must have been made inadvertently possible by the recent agitations to end police brutality and recklessness.
Nigerian Bar Association must be grateful to #endsars agitators and protesters. By the agitators’ unwavering stance against police brutality and discourtesies, lawyers have just been saved from the dishonour they experience in the hands of SARS operatives and regular police in the course of intervening for suspects in police stations.
Though the agitations were to end police brutality, the effects of the protests have trickled down to the rank and file of traffic wardens who harassed motorists such as cab drivers, bike riders and three-wheeler drivers, and have turned themselves to the ‘lords of the roads’, unashamedly, brazenly collecting daily bribes.
It’s irrefutable that our society needs police to maintain law and order. It’s also unarguable that henceforth, Nigerian police will begin to embrace professionalism in the discharge of their duties. Nigerian police had never been so shaken and fearful by the resolve of Nigerians to free themselves from the deliberate maltreatment being unleased on them. By the time the reforms already being implemented by the FG and the police authorities have been completed, there will be pliant police officers, ready to embrace their core duties of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians.
