Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker, Federal House of Representatives has lent his voice to the call for the end of police brutality on innocent citizens.
Gbajabiamila who spoke at the public hearing conducted by the House Committee on Police Affairs stated that the lawmakers will not condone any form of brutality and ill-treatment meted out to undeserving innocent citizens.
He disclosed that it was unfortunate that the Police which is the closest government institution to the citizens, are the same people torturing them.
This is coming after Tiamiyu Kazeem, Remo football player was allegedly shot by an operative of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) last Saturday.
The incident which sparked outrage among Sagamu residents led to a protest on Monday. Police officers allegedly fired live ammunition to disperse the erring crowd. This erupted into more chaos and pandemonium in the town.
Gbajabiamila said that many people now live in fear of the same people assigned to protect them.
“More than any other institution of the State, it is the police force that relates to the citizens daily. In many communities across Nigeria, the Police Force is the only representative of the Nigerian state, and the connection between our citizens and the state is often defined by their interactions with the Nigeria Police.
“It is unfortunate and entirely unacceptable that the relationship between the police and many of these communities is now defined by fear, mutual antagonism and an absolute loss of faith in the ability of the police to protect and to serve.”
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The Honourable Speaker faulted the FG for not ensuring the officers go through rigorous process of orientation and training before bearing the badge.
“We will not achieve much of substance if we shy away from confronting the failures of recruitment and training, remuneration and welfare, responsibility and accountability that have left us with a national police force that is too often unfit for purpose.
“We can no longer stand for this, and we will not. This House of Representatives has a responsibility to speak for our citizens and we will continue to do so even when it is inconvenient.” said Femi Gbajabiamila