#EndSARS crisis: Police need total reforms, says group

A civil society organisation, Southwest Development Frontiers (SDF), has called on the federal government to begin total reformation of the police as a result of the aftermath of the nationwide EndSARS crisis which led to the killing of policemen, torching of police stations and other criminalities.

In a statement, Osabinu Olufemi, SDF coordinator, said government must begin the renovation of police barracks as part of a better welfare package for the personnel.

“We condemn in totality the killing of numerous policemen, burning down of over 200 police stations across the country, carting away their firearms, and the burning of police vehicles. Consequent upon the aforementioned, it is germane for the nation to move forward from our present state of national dilapidation,” he said.

“To achieve this cardinal objective, the government must ensure that the various Panels of Inquiry set up by various state governments be given unfettered access and a conducive atmosphere for unbiased investigation.

“The government should equally ensure a total reformation of the police sector; commence immediate renovation of their moribund barracks and provide better welfare package for the personnel.”

The group appealed to officers of the Nigeria Police Force to resume their respective duty posts in the interest of national security following the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests across the country.

Some personnel of the Force had been reluctant to return to work, citing low morale in the wake of killings of their colleagues, burning and looting of some police stations by hoodlums who hijacked the protests in some states.

The group condemned the gruesome killing of these officers and other security agents during the protests in some states by hoodlums.

Olufemi said the government must ensure that the various panels of inquiry set up by various states be given access to investigate the root causes of what led to the unexpected violence that ought to have been prevented from snowballing out of proportion.