Nigerians are very confused over the ENDSARS and the new ENDSWAT campaign. The campaign against ENDSARS has been given speedy attention by the federal government. The Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, has called for all officers under the defunct unit to the force headquarters for all kinds of examinations before redeployment to other police formations.
The IGP later announced that it has set up a new police department with the name Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). But Nigerian youths did not allow it to land and see its outcome, they have started protesting with hashtag #ENDSWAT. This is no longer a joke.
Nigeria youths should have waited and see the outcome of the SWAT before taking to the streets to protest ENDSWAT. Now, one may ask, what do they actually want? To shutdown Nigeria police as a whole? If that happens, the same people calling for END police will cry of “police are not doing their work.”
Some say they want reformation of the police but we all should know that reformation does not come in one day. It’s a process and it must take a full cycle. So, Nigerian youths have to wait for a while and not immediate demand for reformation and it happens over night.
I dare say that the continuous protest across the nation is no longer necessary. As the protests are ongoing, lives of youths are being taken, some are getting serious injuries and other hazards. Accolades have been given to the youths for the one voice with which they protested across Nigeria.
They have done well. It’s time to rest and wait for the next line of action. It’s too early to protest against SWAT. It is to be launched and behaviour of members observed before any action is taken. After all, I’m a bloody civilian like other ENDSARS protesters. The difference may be that I have not been molested by SARS but read horrific experience of others.
