EndSARS: Oyo Assembly Condemns Killing Of Protesters, IG SWAT Hasty-Fix, Calls For Police Reform

The Oyo State House of Assembly has condemned the killing of ENDSARS protester and the hasty setup of, Special Weapons and Tactics Team, SWAT as a replacement of the scrabbled Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS by the Inspector General of Police, noting that the entire police force needs complete overhaul to redeem its image.

The State lawmakers during its Wednesday plenary in Ibadan commended the federal government through the Inspector-General of Police for listening to the voice of Nigerian youths by scrapping SARS.

In a motion of matter of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Wunmi Oladeji representing Ogbomoso North, which calling for urgent need to investigate killing of Jimoh Isaika during “END-SARS” protest in Ogbomosho and invasion of Soun’s palace by yet-to-be identified hoodlums.

According to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, SARS officer should be a unit to face armed robbers and other tactical operations that could put lives of citizens in jeopardy by men of the underworld. Unfortunately, Nigerians are more scared of the SARS men than even armed robbers until they were disbanded recently.

He said, “the major problem of the youths with default SARS officers is consistent wrong profiling. When I was younger, I had access to exotic cars, maybe because of the privilege I had, and that did not make me or other legitimate young entrepreneurs or professionals out there fraudsters.

“As lawmakers, we may have different positions or opinions about SARS, but we have to consider the demand of the people. They have giving us the mandate and we have to represent and protect their interest absolutely.

“Many people have lost they lives to SARS, many were molested and extorted. Even as a speaker, I and other honourables have had encounter with SARS if not for the maturity we displayed.

“The federal government is too big, the power within and responsibility is too wide. Maintenance of federal roads, hospitals, agencies and other infrastructures are suffering because they are too big to handle. The exclusives list need to be reconsidered, there is obvious need for restructuring.”

Describing the killing of Jimoh Isiaka in Ogbomosho as further confirmation of brutality of so many bad eggs in the Nigerian Police, Hon. Olawunmi Oladeji lamented the news of police extortion, harassment and extra-judicial killings dominating pages of newspapers, social media, radio and television.

According to her, the lack of proper monitoring of police activities generally and SARS in particular has earned the country a bad reputation globally.

“World Internal Security and Police Index (WISPI) ranks Nigeria’s Police Force as the worst, just below Congo, Kenya and Uganda in 2016.

“We are urging the IGP to ensure the monitoring procedures are put in place for any new police arrangement that is to replace SARS while any officer that is guilty of professional misconduct should face due punishment without delay so as to serve as deterrent to others,” she added.

Hon. Adebayo Babajide representing Ibadan North Constituency II while commending Governor Seyi Makinde for his prompt intervention over the unfortunate killing of Jimoh Isiaka and ordering immediate investigation, urged the State to ensure the culprits are prosecuted so as too serve as deterrent to others.

He said, “Not all Police Officers are bad, because every section of the society has its own good and bad eggs. We are calling for total reform of the Nigerian Police Force.

“Let the government look into their recruitment process, the training and retraining schemes for police officers. Discipline required and also improved remuneration for the hard tasks expected from them.”

By Grace Tunji