For over two weeks now, Nigeria is rocked with #EndSARS protests. A hitherto well intended cause against police brutality and the need to reform the Nigeria Police Force, has turned rogue or perhaps hijacked by some ill-wishers whose motive is to bring chaos and anarchy. This protest could be said to be one which has attracted attention beyond expectation as it has enjoyed support from some politicians, most especially Sen. Shehu Sani, Sen. Ishaku Abbo, among others, and global celebrities such as Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, US rapper Kanye West, gospel singer Kirk Franklin, footballers Mesut Ozil and Marcus Rashford and Nigerian superstars Davido, Burner Boy and Wizkid.
As the protest continued to generate reactions, the North too reinvigorates its call on the government concerning the operation of bandits in the North-west and Boko Haramin North-east which appear not to be attracting enough attention from government and Nigerians. States in the North like Kaduna and Kano took to the streets and social media with the hashtags ‘North is bleeding’ ‘End Banditry’ ‘Save North’. To be particular, celebrities from the Kannywood industry are at the forefront alongside some personages.
Unarguably, the incidence of police brutality has been a long existing phenomenon not only in Nigeria but the world over. We have seen some months back, demonstrations in the United States against police brutality with the ‘#Black lives matter’. That has further given black folks anywhere in the world the impetus to resist oppression and dehumanising treatment from those at the helm of affairs and their agents, and no time could have been more apt to address the issue in Nigeria than now. In the North too, same case of police brutality exists, however, the problems threatening its existence cannot be reduced to SARS. In fact, in the North, many are oblivious to the existence of SARS because, they all are referred to as the police and this may be due to fact that for 10 years, SARS only operated in Lagos, until 2002, when it spread to all 36 states of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory. Another factor may be the little or no presence of yahoo-yahoo boys which Lagos is notorious for, seasoned kidnappers like kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a Evans, to mention but a few, as SARS’s mandate includes arrest, investigation and prosecution of suspected armed robbers, murderers, kidnappers, hired assassins and suspected violent criminals.
These continued protests have opened an avenue for hoodlums to perpetrate all sorts of atrocities which include: vandalism of public establishments, institutions, agencies and parastatal, arson on banks, police stations, desecration of traditional institutions like the recent effrontery exhibited in the attacks on Oba Palace in Lagos where the sacred royal staff was carted away and onslaught on innocent individuals, not to mention those unreported. In the wake of these, the imposition of curfew became necessary to check the excesses of the protesters or let me say the hoodlums.
If one is to look at these recent attacks on public and private property, one could perhaps link it to the supposed shootings by soldiers in Lekki, Lagos. There were allegations that the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered soldiers to open fire on the protesters so as to show his unwavering loyalty to the president. An allegation which he had since denied. He said, “I will never be part of any carnage, the use of live ammunition against protesters is totally condemnable. There is a limitation here; I can only control my personal guards”.
Vandalism of public and private property is not the solution to the problem. Actually, it can only worsen the situation because, whatever is vandalised, it is the same public funds that will be taken from the national treasury for reparation, renovation and reconstruction. Consequently, we are all at the receiving end. The monies aimed at some vital projects will have to be reversed. One shouldn’t let anger get the best out of him.
On October 22, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation. He noted the rights of citizens to peaceful protest and the need for security operatives to give them protection but, did not capture the recent shooting of protesters in Lekki, an incident that shocked the world and greeted with condemnation. Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State said,“The United States strongly condemns incidents of military forces firing on unarmed protestors in Lagos. Those involved should be held to account under the law“. Others like former presidential candidate, who was also a former American Secretary of States, Hilary Clinton followed suit.
However, in what appeared to be a retort in his address, President Buhari puts them where they belong. “To our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements.”
However, President Buhari did not accord any specification to the protest in the North. This makes northerners feel like the president accords preference to the South than the North. This could be due to the expectation of reciprocation from the North on the president because, when it comes to supporting the president, nowhere does it better than the North. When the president was bed-ridden, there were always prayers for his quick recovery from the North. When it comes to defending his integrity, nowhere does it better than the North. To further attest to the assertion, few months ago, Buhari praise singer, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, resolved to stop singing for the president until one thousand naira from each Buhari’s supporters is paid. Within three days millions of naira was generated and all this came from the North. Baba made it to his second tenure with the votes of the North. The North was of the belief and expectation that when PMB becomes president, there would flow rivers of honey and milk. Alas! this is not the case.
To be objective, the clamour for good governance, police reform through peaceful protest is highly welcomed and encouraged. However, if it would be an avenue for criminal elements to perpetrate crime and criminality it’s something one should stand firmly against.Indeed, the president might not have met some expectations but, has touched some crucial points on unity of Nigeria, the obligation of government in protection of lives and property, and the reassurance government has heard the voice of the protesters and is responding.It is time the government is let to execute the demands. Let the protests stop for now.
Yahaya writes from Faculty of Law, Bauchi State University, Gadau.
