Lagos PFN backs end-SARS protests by Nigerian youths
Lagos PFN Chairman, Bishop (Dr.) Sola Ore
Lagos State Chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has lent its voice in support of the call by the Nigerian youths for the dissolution of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) masterminded by the youths across the country through end-SARS protests.
In a statement by Lagos PFN Chairman, Bishop (Dr.) Sola Ore, yesterday, the cleric condemned in strong terms what he described as “the barbaric conduct of some members of the SARS unit particularly and other officers of the Nigerian Police Force in general.”
According to him, “today as parents, ministers and the conscience of the nation we join our children to say it is enough! We condemn with all vehemence the barbaric conduct of some members of the SARS unit particularly and other officers of the Nigerian Police Force in general. We support the call for the disbanding of this unit of the Nigerian Police Force as it is obvious that they are beyond reform, we call on the authorities not to redeploy these men to other units without proper subjection to scrutiny.
“Nigerians are guaranteed a right under our constitution to protest peacefully, we urge the authorities not to hinder this right in any form or manner. We call on the authorities to ensure that all officers and men of the NPF no matter how highly ranked who are culpable in any acts of unleashing violence against protesters, who are culpable in acts of murder, kidnapping, extortion, assault, rape, intimidation of citizens to be prosecuted in an open and transparent manner.
“We also call for the setting up of an independent judicial panel of enquiry that will investigate the SARS unit and determine the culpability or otherwise of its men and officers in the numerous acts of vileness alleged of them, many of which have been captured on camera.
While drawing the attention of Nigerians to the growing agitation by youths in the last few days against what he called “the gruesome and unprecedented brutality of officers of the Nigerian Police Force with particular reference to FSARS, he noted that “the history of police brutality in our country is not new, going as far back as the dastardly murder of a promising Olympic record holder Dele Udoh in 1981 to the more recent murder of Jamiu Isaq, the common trend in all these murders is the non-prosecution of the killer cops.”
Bishop Ore said in the last couple of years thme murderous activities of killer cops has soared to new heights of notoriety and impunity, adding that “our young people and children are being hunted down, killed, extorted, raped and murdered in the most gruesome manner, while the police affairs ministry, the national assembly and the leadership of the Nigerian Police and the Presidency have looked on with a frightening lack of concern and empathy.
“It is clear that public confidence in the police and its leadership is at an all-time low and that they cannot be trusted to reform themselves, in the light of this we urge the President to set up a commission that will propose appropriate legislative and organizational reforms for the Nigerian Police. The prevailing culture in the police is oppressive to the average citizen and seems to be skewed to protect the rich and powerful and oppress the weak and the poor.
“We also use this opportunity to highlight the poor remuneration, living and operating conditions of the men & officers of the NPF, while this is no excuse for bad behavior, it is important for their all-round wellbeing that these areas must be improved very drastically.
“As a body we believe that the strident cries and calls by our young people is in reality a call for a new Nigeria where equity, righteousness, justice, equal access to opportunities and national opportunity reigns. It will be wise to give attention to these cries as it is in effect a desire that is burning in the hearts of all Nigerians regardless of tribe or religion.
“We are quite alarmed that the IG of Police just a couple of days after announcing the disbandment of the SARS unit has gone on to announce the formation of a new SWAT unit, this hasty announcement is insensitive to public opinion and does not seem to have been very well thought out, we urge some restraint and caution in this matter.
“We urge our young people who are standing up to be heard to do so firmly, peacefully and being mindful of the rights of others, the future is yours, and that future is here,” he added.
While calling on the government and leaders at all levels to be more attentive and responsive to the cries in the land., the PFN Chairman noted that this is a great moment to create the Nation our youths want and deserve just as he charged that all hands must be on deck assuring that the Church will continue to be light, salt, the voice of the weak and the conscience of the nation.
