It is no longer news that a vast majority of young people across the nation are calling for the total scrapping and collapsing of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police force, using the hashtags #ENDSARS and #SARSMUSTENDNOW.
There is a pattern that has been consistent throughout history – oppressed people turning against their oppressors: the slaves against their owners, peasantry against the feudal lords, colonies against their empires an it goes on on. This has been a consistent pattern in human history and no wonder the youths of Nigeria have decided to take their destiny in their own hands and to push for a more prosperous, equitable and egalitarian society. A Nigerian, that the rule of law is respected and the lives and livelihood of the people protected.
In any case, the core essence of Government is to provide security for its citizens. A situation where the Government has failed in its responsibility, it is only normal for the citizens to call her to order. Let me borrow from Plato: ” At every point in any democracy, the people, and only the people alone should remain the philosopher kings”. This is because a nation can not be said to be democratic where there is no rule of law, where the constitution is not the ultimate guideline for operating in the country without recourse to social status, political affiliations or religious background.
Consequently, it is important that the Government listens to the yearning and aspiration of the people as regards ending SARS operation in Nigeria.
The truth of the matter is that the public has lost faith completely in the police unit called SARS. It is therefore a matter of urgency that the federal government should scrap the unit completely. Reassign the officers, evaluate at what point did the unit got it wrong, where it shifted from chasing armed robbers to doing stop and search, arresting of young Nigerians because they are perceived as internet fraudstars popularly called YAHOO BOYS. Even to the effect of invading the privacy of their homes, personal mobile devices, laptops etc. This is grossly an aberration of the ethics and ethos of democracy, the United Nations chapter on human rights and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria that guaranties the privacy of the citizens.
I therefore call on the federal government, and the Buhari led administration as a matter of urgency listen to what the people are saying before it gets to a far reaching consequence. I also call on the international community to prevail on the Nigerian Government through which ever legitimate means possible to do the right thing and let the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to be completely go and not just in nomenclature. Nigeria belongs to us all.
God bless Nigeria.
Joseph Egbara
Political Correspondent, CJN.
A graduate of Political Science, Social Commentator and Political Analyst.