The news of incessant extra-judicial killings by some elements in the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) inundated the internet recently. The most dreaded and effective unit of the Nigerian Police Force, Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), is the most culpable in the harassment of the masses which led to the social media campaign with hash tag “EndSARS”.
With the way the bad ones act, few out of the one hundred and eighty million Nigerians appreciate the great work they’re doing. But aside the unruly behaviour of some of the operatives, SARS is no doubt a good initiative of the NPF to curb and curtail social vices in our society. Can you imagine a Nigeria without SARS?
However, no one is asking or providing answers to the question: why this killings? How can someone pull out a gun and pull the trigger on defenceless persons? It takes beyond ordinary for that to happen. Many query the psychological state of the officers thereby calling for a medical evaluation of every officer and man of the force. Will that solve our problem?
As humans, there is a level to what (insult) an individual can withstand. Like my boss would say, ‘Everybody likes salt, but nobody likes insult.’ Can we say because there is human right we can insult an officer? Don’t get me wrong! I’m not assuming every incident of killings involving the police is as a result of insult. But if we could exercise some restrictions regarding our rights at least when the policeman is carrying a rifle… Only those alive, can claim a right.
Read Also: We’ll Not Accept APC’s Choice Of Gbajabiamila As Speaker – Arewa Youths
Are police personnel not human? Some people say they would kill a policeman and allow a snake go freely as the saying goes. Such people forget that these officers are from a family. They have families just as you and I do. They are only ‘unfortunate’ to have chosen a profession that compelled them to sleep on the street, in the bush, take a bullet, for you. Some people will never allow their wards to marry a police officer! I really can’t reconcile why the hate is this much. Funny enough, when the police recruit, these same set of people apply to get the job. Maybe it is the reason we are having unprofessional and hot-tempered policemen.
Why are we not appreciating people endangering their lives to keep us alive? Just like everyone else, police officers are human with blood flowing in their bodies. Their enemies are twice yours! You’re one and your enemies (criminals) are the others. Why can’t we feel the pain of these people? Do you really know they’re humans like you?
Still on the issue of abuse of rights by the bad eggs. It is incumbent on a sane civilian to exercise patience in the presence of an armed police officer. The reason is simple. Do you know his mental state? How sure are you that he is happy doing what he is doing? What about the trauma of spilling blood during confrontations? Yes! There are more mad people in suit and a slight argument will trigger the madness in them. Do you want to be a victim?
How best can we help these people? Acknowledge the fact that they are human, and capable of being upset. He may be hot-tempered just as many of us civilians. You do not argue with an officer with firearm. No doubt that the Police Service Commission (PSC) needs to upgrade police recruitment criteria to ensure that hot-tempered individuals are restricted from engaging in operations devoid of criminality. They should be specially reserved for criminal operations like crackdown on kidnappers. Or sent straight on human relations courses.
Body CAM should be part of the dress code and stun guns should be introduced. Unnecessary blocking of the road for stop-and-search operations should stop, while advanced technologies should be introduced. Our universities and polytechnics must be tasked to come up with gadgets for surveillance like CCTV Cameras, Body CAM etc. Renumeration and adequate training should be given and psychological evaluation is paramount.
Read Also: Photos: More than $351 million discovered in Sudan’s ex-president’s apartment
Roqeeb, a socio-political commentator, wrote in from Lagos. He can be reached on: [email protected]