Yemisi Izuora
Youth Alive Foundation, YAF, has cried out over what it described as excessive police brutality targeting the youths in Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Lagos during a press conference organized by Network On Police Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN, the group eulogized NOPRIN and other concerned organizations that have contributed immensely to the Police Reforms campaign
which has given birth to the Police Reform Bill.
“As a member of NOPRIN, our interest on the subject matter rest on the fact that youths are major victims of the atrocities of an unreformed Nigerian Police Force. As a youth organization that works with and for youths in Nigeria, we know
youths deserve better. Police corruption and brutality has directly increased youth crime and human right abuse. Youths in Nigeria have suffered from unlawful
detention and extortion, Invasion of privacy, and irresponsible
conduct by police officers, YAF said in the statement signed by Chamberlain Etukdoh
Project Coordinator, Lagos.
The group recalled Kolade who was killed by police for committing no crime other than being a sport lover, saying that such an avoidable death, is a result of Police rascality/incompetence.
“Let’s also remember that to be a woman is not a crime and abuse
against any woman is an abuse against society, we hereby condemn the Abuja raid on women. The Police Force must be reformed to reflect the society we live in
today, hence the importance of the police reforms bill. The reforms
should boost youth confidence in the police force and improve the
strained relationship between the police and the Nigerian Youth.
We fear that police brutality is increasing rather than decreasing by
the day. Youth Alive Foundation joins her voice with other CSO’s on
this coalition/network to call on President Muhammed Buhari to grant
assent to the Police Reforms Bill. We call on our President to save
Nigerian Youth by signing the bill”, the statement added.
According to Etukdoh, The police reform bill is positioned to address gender discrimination and human rights abuse, ensure funding for policing and police
welfare, and arbitrary arrest/detention. Youth Alive Foundation will
continue to work with NOPRIN and other civil society actors to ensure
police accountability and ensure increased youth participation in the
fight against corruption.
“Our Noshishi4bribe campaign will support the police reform bill by
mobilizing for collective youth action to ensure the bill is signed and
youths are enlightened enough to be on the right side of the law and
not have to offer bribe to police officers on duty”, Etukdoh assured.