EndSARS: Don’t interfere with protest, ActionAid tells Army

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has called on the Nigerian Army not to interfere with EndSARS peaceful protesters.

The Country Director , Ene Obi while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Thursday said, the Nigerian Army has enough to do in curtailing bandits and insurgents ta terrorizing Nigerians.

She emphsise the need to facilitate upward review of police welfare and emoluments to guarantee ethical and professional conducts of the security operatives.

According to her, the appalling states of police barracks across the country must be overhauled with regular provision of kits and equipments to promote decency and corporate police image. 

She said ActionAid Nigeria has deemed it fit to lend our voice to putting a stop to police brutality and riding on the ongoing agitation to reform Nigeria Police because the current police structure in terms of command and operation adversely affect young people who are one of our core target groups.

She said these agitations stem from frustrations and long years of neglect of young people as evidenced by the high level of unemployment and underemployment of youths; this injustice has strong roots in the high level of corruption and slack of governance in the country over the years.

“There has been limited progress on accountability of law enforcement agencies and their abuses in the country.

The report of Presidential Panel of Inquiry set up in 2018 to investigate abuses by the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is yet to be made public.

“ It is imperative that the officers who have been found guilty of harassing and brutalizing innocent citizens should be brought to book and justice be seen to be thoroughly served.

She called on all Federal Government and Governments at all levels need to pay attention to the welfare of the citizens noting that there is systemic failure and it needs transformation.

According to her, every political leader needs to become completely responsible and accountable. “A situation where members of the National Assembly that are one of the highest paid in the world still scamming for contracts (unbelievable) exist and are being protected by one of the poorest paid Police Force in the world; and we are the poorest country in the world as Nigeria has now been declared the poverty capital of the world recently, despite the vast natural and huge human resources. The young people are demanding their dignity and the dignity of every Nigerian to be restored.

“Police reform should not only be in rhetoric but in actions evident to Nigerians.  It should start with the upgrading of Police Training Colleges and recruitment processes.

“We want a Nigeria police that is well-informed on human rights and social justice and treat human beings with dignity. We demand the Nigerian Police that is attractive to the best brains in the country and police officers that are core professionals maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal activities with emotional intelligence devoid of brutality or extortion of citizens. 

“We demand a policing system with good welfare package to attract and retain the best of minds. Police officers are humans too. They also have responsibilities to their families and the society.

“We want to see a Nigeria where law enforcement agencies take care of citizens, and not the current chaos arising from police brutality and previous neglects in governance system,” she said.

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