The Socialist Party of Nigeria, SPN, has commended Nigerian commends Nigerian youths for their resilience and steadfastness in the struggle against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
Accused of brutality by its operatives, Nigerians for many days took to the street in protest, and in SARS was dissolved by the government.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, SPN said that Nigerians must must see the announcement of the dissolution of SARS as a victory.
It however said that they should not rest on their oars as arguing that the dissolution of SARS did not mean an end to police brutality which is perpetrated by all units of police and other security agencies including the military.
The protesting youths it urged, should demand democratic control of the police and all security agencies by community people.
Said SPN: “Therefore, we call for a consistent campaign against police brutality. This should be supported not only by young people but also by the working class organisation like Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC)
“While welcoming the dissolution of SARS, the SPN reject the plan to redeploy the operatives of SARS to other police units without first of all fishing out the criminally minded ones through a special panel of enquiry that includes representatives of young people, trade unions and civil society and their prosecution. Not doing this would mean letting loose unrepentant murderers in a new guise.
“Also importantly, the SPN condemns the attacks and killings of protesters which have continued in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country despite the dissolution of SARS. We demand justice and compensation for all the victims of police brutality and their families. We also demand the release of all arrested protesters. It shows the viciousness and savagery of the police and, most tellingly, the hollowness of the Federal Government’s pronounced dissolution of SARS that protesters were still killed and injured during peaceful protests against the brutality of SARS. While sympathising with families of those who have been killed or injured, the SPN strongly calls for the arrest and prosecution of all police officers that were involved in the shooting dead of Jimoh Isiaka in the protest in Ogbomoso as well as those who killed protesters in Surulere Lagos and other places.”
