The Oyo State House of Assembly has condemned the killing of ENDSARS protesters and the hasty setup of Special Weapons and Tactics Team, SWAT as a replacement for the scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS by the Inspector General of Police, noted that the entire police force needed 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 voices of Nigerian youths by scrapping SARS.
The condemnation came up in a matter of urgent public importance presented by Hon.Wunmi Oladeji representing Ogbomoso North, which called for urgent need to investigate the 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, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, SARS was a unit created to face armed robbers and other tactical operations that could put lives of citizens in jeopardy by men of the underworld added that Nigerians were more scared of the SARS men than even armed robbers until they were disbanded recently.
He said, “the major problem the youths is having with SARS officers was 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 encounters 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 be handled by the FG. The exclusives list need to be reconsidered, there is obvious need for restructuring.”
Ogundoyin described the killing of Jimoh Isiaka in Ogbomosho as a 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,” Hon Wumi 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 the order for immediate investigation, urged the State Government 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. There’s the need for improved remuneration for the hard tasks expected from them.”
