At a time like this, what would one write that is new? Everyone in the land is aware of the build up to the protests in virtually all the state capitals of the country. We are at a difficult point in our political development, demanding extra-ordinary strength in decisions to get out of it. The youths are a barometer of the conscience of the nation; and it is the responsibility of the state to listen to them.

The say and it has come to stick with us: ‘The police is your friend’ and not all of us buy this old time cliché. Whether this has been proven is a matter for different interpretations from those who have come under the hammer of their ill-treatment. There is no denying the fact that in an organization such as the police, there are indeed a number of bad eggs as well as a significant number of good ones.

The good ones have brought home honour to the institution, nonetheless; those who have brought it into disrepute are reason we are where we are today. The dirt on the institution does not appear one to clean in a day. The surgical operation must be total.

That is the present danger we are faced with. But beyond all that, couldn’t we be thinking there is more to it than it is presently unfolding? We think there are a lot to be unraveled because of the dimension it has assumed.

No matter what is on the table, we have a responsibility to change the tide for good. Every nation deserves a people’s police. It is what the protesters are up to, but beyond the statements from various Nigerians, it is about time, we told ourselves the truth; if they are able to extricate us all from the effects of having an institution that should stand for the people but are rather enslaved.

I have had cause to visit a police station; however the impression I left with wasn’t one to wish for an enemy. I have gone to others and left with the feeling that if given the space, the Nigerian police can always swing surprises of great things; leaving those who have had nasty experience with some of its officers wonder if they are the same group that is being taken to the cleaners.

Across the land, a number of innocent Nigerian victims have had experiences that if told, you would wish the culprits are quickly sent to the hottest part of hell to burn. But that is not all; some of them were not exposed because they had no one to stand for them or simply because some of the victims were quickly wasted by those who are paid to secure them.

‘The SARS people may have fought armed robbers viciously but they also fought – and killed–many innocent persons. The reports of their atrocities which include extortion, torture and extra-judicial killings have appeared in the media regularly but it has never been manifestly clear to the public that the offending personnel are often brought to justice. Perhaps, some victims with high visibility or influential connections have had their cases pursued to a logical end.

‘But the truth is that the Nigeria Police, not just its unit with terror credentials called SARS, is not truly a very civil and friendly police force. Never mind the hollow slogan that “the police is your friend.” My view of why the police generally treat us badly is that the system treats them very badly’.

We have had the issue of police brutality facing us for too long. Whatever measures have been applied to solving such issues raised on account of their brutality and corrupt practices have been largely cosmetic; suggesting that the authorities do not bother about those. It has lingered to the point that we needed something to ignite a spark at the problem. ‘Apart from undergraduates, millions of unemployed youths see the #EndSARS protest as an opportunity to vent their anger on the government and society they accused of failing them’.

I am sure many still remember that sometime on Friday, December 18, 2010, a certain Mohamed Bouazizi, while protesting police corruption and ill-treatment, set himself on fire in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid. It was what Tunisians needed to spark series of protests which spread to Yemen, Egypt, Bahrain, Libya and Syria.

The Arab Spring protests were a series that the mass of the society in those countries saw oppressive regimes working against them. If anything, their standard of living even in the midst of plenty was nothing to write home about.

Stories abound in several Nigerian cities of how people received row deal in the hands of operatives of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). On October 3, 2020 ‘at Wetland Hotel, Ughelli in Delta State, a police officer attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) shot a young man, and he and his colleagues took away a Lexus SUV belonging to the victim’. Sadly, the anger took a dimension never expected; as young Nigerians took to the streets to vein their anger and frustrations on the police and government.

For days running the #EndSARS protesters were on major Nigerian streets, while social and economic activities stood at standstill. Painfully lives were lost in the protests; even as prominent names were on hand to lend their voices to the campaign. The government acted by disbanding the notorious outfit which came into being in 1992. Many Nigerians think it was established to operate as go-and-kill outfit of the branch of the police.

In the course of the week, the protesters made several demands about what they think should be corrected in Nigeria. They complained about what they perceive is wrong about Nigeria, insisting that time has come for such to be corrected. Their frustration is understandable, with most of them roaming the streets without jobs; most think government is doing less to take them off the streets by providing them with jobs. These concerns are legitimate by whatever standards they are considered.

The voices that have been heard are clear on what the young men and women want. ‘The citizens can demand and it has been made manifest, that the power of legitimate protests; even though it is not the most acceptable way of change; has sent a message to government. The streets provided them the avenue to vent their anger and frustrations on what government has failed to do for them.

‘That is what I call transferred aggression. They are poorly paid; many of them are asked by their superiors to buy their uniforms; they work under the rain without raincoats and during the harmattan without sweaters. Sometimes they have to fuel the vehicles that are to take them out for duty or they have to buy writing materials for witness statements. All these cases of maltreatment of these policemen by officialdom have made them hardened, uncivil and corrupt. I have had some nasty personal experiences with some policemen’.

The protesters called for the scrapping of SARS and pronto it came into effect, but what baffled many Nigerians is that as soon as it was disbanded the ‘IGP hastily set up another group called SWAT to replace SARS, some kind of new wine in an old wine bottle’. It did not sit well as almost immediately Nigerians creatively gave it various nicknames. ‘While the police call it Special weapons and Tactical Team (SWAT), the protesters consider it to be Smooth Wallet Auto Transfers (SWAT) or Same Wickedness Arranged Tactically (SWAT) or SARS With Another Title (SWAT)’. The change of name was embarked upon when Vice President Yemi Osibanjo on Audust 18, 2018 ordered for a complete overhaul of SARS. Nothing significant was done by Ibrahim Idris, then the Inspector General of Police.

Come to think of it, ‘protesters have been on the streets in Hong Kong for the past 16 months without the use of violence to break the protest. Their high level of efficiency, the orderliness and the lack of violence must be a lesson to future protesters. This peaceful style of demonstration is like a breeze from a new direction. That is why it is scoring a direct hit with peace-loving people who are offering them food, drinks and other forms of support. For almost two weeks now our days have passed in a nervous blur with the fear of violence hanging over our heads like the Sword of Damocles’.

What happened across the land in the last couple of days shows that something went wrong. Whether it was that of Jos or Lekki in Lagos, it took a dimension that was going to lead the nation down the precipice, even though many have said already we are where we shouldn’t be as a nation.

The hijack of the protest apparently swayed the popular opinion. The looting and burning of public places as well as harming individuals were indication that it had been taken over by certain elements allegedly planted to cause disaffection in the land. As has been said, the voices of the youths were heard loud and clear in the land on this issue; and sending the signal that government should wake up.

Government is aware that it has a situation at hand, handling it matters a lot. No one in government can underestimate the power of the youths, if the events of the past two weeks are anything to go by. They spoke to power directly; and as it were, warning that there is more that can be done if nothing is carried out to stem the tide. Therefore, they can only be satisfied if their demands are met. For those who wanted to turn the table to satisfy their aims; they may have succeeded to inflict pains on many, it must be stated that the script was read soon enough to avoid what was planned.