#EndSARS: Nigeria Cannot Make Progress If Youths Don’t Feel Safe — Pat Utomi

Pat Utomi, a Nigerian professor of Political Economy and management expert, has called for an overhauling of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the operation of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, saying neither setting of committees nor issuing out statements is enough.

Utomi made this call through a post on his Twitter handle on Monday.

Utomi, who was reacting to the spate of cruelty perpetrated by the SARS on innocent Nigerians, call on the operatives of force to be civil as the lives of young Nigerians matter.

“It is with great pain that I have received the news of the loss of another young life to bullets from a gun assigned to an officer of the law.

“The reaction from social media blowing up with anger from the youth of our land suggests increasing exasperation with repeated cases of extrajudicial killing of young people.”

Utomi tasked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, to ensure that justice is speedily served to culprits “lest the youth lose more confidence in public authority”. “Enough is Enough”, he wrote.

He stated further: “Setting up another committee or just talk can’t be accepted this time. Some people must be held accountable immediately.

“He should recall the erring part of the service with select representation of youth groups on the matter to reassure committee dominated by statesmen and Civil society should then be empanelled to redefine rules of engagement and suggest police/society training,” he said.

Utomi appealed to all law enforcement agents to recognize that the future of Nigerians can be lifted by paying due regard to the dignity of her young people.

“We are of one family and need to do justice to each other,” he noted.

“On behalf of the National Consultative Front, the Centre for Values in Leadership and The Concerned Professionals I would like to say that the imperative of National healing includes dealing with investing in our youth. We cannot make progress if our young do not feel safe,” Utomi stated.