HOW DID WE REACH HERE?

HOW DID WE REACH HERE?

SARS: The Special Anti Robbery Squad, created in late 1992 was a Nigerian police force unit under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID).

It was intended to fight armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes. Ordinarily, the unit is supposed to operate as a covert body(just like the FBI of USA). However, over time stories and allegations of the SARS unit being involved in extra judicial killings, extortion, framing, blackmailing and even outright kidnapping started surfacing and this brought unprecedented condemnation and outcry from the people of Nigeria. This outcry which culminated to a near public protest against the activities and modus operandi of the unit in 2017 later led to the SARS reform of 2018 which saw the reshuffling and sack of some of their hierarchies and the eventual moderation of the units name to Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad(F.SARS).

Fast forward to October 2020 when a team of the SARS unit shot a young Nigerian man at Ughelli in Delta State without no good reason. This action went viral on social media as people videoed the shooting (a gory trend that has become a stock in trade of the special unit, as now people of Nigeria fear SARS more than they fear armed robbers) and posted it online. This video went viral and eventually sparked a nationwide protest, mostly championed by the youths who have been the ones mostly at the recieving end of the FSARS’s and police brutality in the country.

Since the beginning of the month of October, the #EndSARSNow protest has been going on both online on social media and offline in the streets and is still raging on till now. It could be assumed that the people of this country are tired of the failed political system, the corrupt leaders and the security leaders that has been handling the affairs of this country since her independence in October 1, 1960.

The high rate of unemployment, poverty and tribalism is the major cause of our failed country, where the highest bidder will be considered in employments, contracts and appointments than those that actually merit the job. The society is now seeking for and to #END SARS and police brutality for peace to reign and to prosecute all the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Compensations to the families of those murdered by the unit should also be considered and effected to alleviate their sufferings. The only way to make it right is to start giving the youths chance to join in leadership affairs of the country, especially in government and to create sound and profitable skills for them, let the graduates have job, let the government leaders hear the cry of everybody and make the democratic government open and transparent to all.

Judging by the tensed temperament and tension-laden atmosphere of the whole circumstance, the protest might continue if not worsen should nothing be done by the government of the day to appease and appeal to the sensitivity of the youths and citizens of Nigeria. A positive and lasting measure is all that the people of Nigeria is demanding so that the betterment of the citizens and the country will be assured.

Support #END SARSNOW from Chisom Ogbuka, Deputy Director of Social Development and Awareness Creation Odimma Anambra Forum OAF.

God bless us

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