FSARS: DEATH SQUAD MASQUERADING AS LAW ENFORCERS.

 “If someone puts their hands on you make sure they never put their hands on anybody else again.”― Malcom X

Aptly said an important message to the youth in Nigeria. If FSARS agents put their hands on you again make sure they never have the opportunity to put their hands on you or anybody else again.

It is difficult to wrap my brain around the idea that a unit created to protect, serve and provide safety for the populace has metamorphosed into a monster spewing intimidation, extortion and extra judicial killings under the nose of the Nigerian President and the Inspector General of the Nigerian  Police. This is indeed disheartening. 

The nonchalant attitude over the years by those in positions of authority to the gross violation of the fundamental human rights of Nigerians and youth conclusively testify to the view that Nigeria police force was not created to protect and serve the masses but to kill the people while protecting the elite.

How can we conclude otherwise given the regularity of FSARS brutalization, mutilation and dismembering of our citizens under the canopy of Nigeria Police Force and @APCNigeria led administration.

It is often said that a proper understanding of policing system and philosophy of a nation within a particularistic, politico historical context would expose the character of the administration in which the police organisation operate.

It is self evidently true that the character of this administration has been signposted by repression and abuse of fundamental rights of Nigerians. Therefore, an organism that is impregnated with the philosophy of repression would need a repressive police force in the form of a unit known as Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad to terrorise the citizenry into submission.

I want to say emphatically here that the purpose of this policy direction is to maintain hegemony or build social boundaries but this is counterproductive because a policing philosophy that seeks partnership with the public shall create social harmony. 

Evidence of this misplaced policy direction is witnessed with the recruitment saga that failed to take into consideration the character of a professional police officer instead political consideration and influence peddling determine who is recriuted into the force most especially into the unit FSARS to advance the second primary assignment of the unit which is extortion.

How do we elucidate the possesion of POS by FSARS unit during their extortion assignment. Who issued the payment platform? Is the platform linked to a BVN or business? What about the role of the bank(s).

There are so many unanswered questions regarding FSARS misconduct that others must interrogate.

However, I would like to leverage on plato's idea that our conduct is governed by either the intellect, spirit or our appetite and these three elements are categorical imperatives in determining the success or unsuccessfulness of any organism. We can further flesh out these elements as positive/proactive leadership, will or greed. The first two are nonexistent in the Nigerian Police Force. The common denominator prevalent is greed. I am not surprised that after given four different directives to the officers and men of the police unit FSARS to desist from their misbehaviours no tangible changes reflective of those command took place. 

Again Inspector General of Police has given several orders in 2017, 2018, 2019, respectively to control the excesses of FSARS but it seems the unit is beyond superior directives. This raises the question of the level of compliant to superior order by FSARS operatives because they seems to act as if they are immune from control and only acting according to own discretion.

My view, there is no qualitative evidence that FSARS reduces the incidence of crime in Nigeria rather it exacerbates the abuse of the fundamental rights of citizens due to the overzealousness and criminal behaviour of officers in the discharge of "unauthorised duties." Note that unauthorised duties here are duties condone by greedy superior but not according to the law. 

The buck stops at the President's table and he must show the populace that he is the commander in chief by making sure that the fundamental rights of Nigerians are respected by all security forces. He must put a stop to the misguided impression on the security forces sides that they are super human always on the right side. 

Mr. President, If a nation is unjust the just shall end up in prison. I am sure that is not the legacy you would like to be remembered with when the contemporary history of Nigeria is documented. 

OTUNBA ADE ILEMOBADE IS A PHILOSOPHER. TWITTER: @PEARL2PRINCE