WEEKS after the EndSARS protests which rocked the nation and ignited a nationwide anger on the police, the smog of distrust and hatred between members of the public and the police is still smoldering malice and repression with police personnel staying away from their duty posts.
REPORTS across the country revealed that many policemen manning critical and strategic duties have continued to shun their assignments in veiled protests against the brutality and humiliation of many policemen who undeservedly lost their lives in the mayhem that trailed the EndSARS protests.
IN Akure, the Ondo State capital, policemen have grudgingly responded to the clarion call to return to their duty posts but have done so parsimoniously leaving yawning gaps for criminals to have a field day
THE HOPE empathizes with the gallant policemen and security agents who lost their lives, properties, arms and ammunition in the national turbulence in defense of their fatherland.
NO excuse is accepted or justifiable for any attack on policemen or law enforcement agents by hoodlums as done during the last EndSARS protest.
IT has been said over and over that the police high command must find the magic wand to fix the distrust between the public and policemen. More importantly, our society must appreciate the complex nature of the police which imposes on it, the constitutional responsibility of maintaining law and order.
BEING the most visible arm of government, the police symbolizes hatred for criminals and those who had borne the brunt of their aggressions and high handedness either rightly or wrongly. However, Nigerians must equally appreciate that it is not always easy to hold the balance of liberty and safety for law enforcers who in the course of their duties must step on toes.
WE seek for a ceasefire between “protesting policemen” who have abdicated their duty posts and the populace who think the noticeable spike in crime after the EndSARS protests is blackmail by the police to return to the highways to continue with their tolling and bribe taunting to sheathe the sword.
WITHOUT the police, no security is guaranteed or assured. The audacity of armed bandits, kidnappers and other criminals to strike at will as now being experienced in Akure, is anchored on a weak and non-challance police force.
IN the last one week, residents of the state have been on the siege of bad boys who rob and maim with atrocious impunity.
IN Ikare, all banks have shut their doors to customers for fears of being attacked or robbed.
DURING the same period, kidnappers disrupted commercial activities along the ever busy Akure-Owo highway and took many market women who were returning from their businesses hostage.
WE hope the spike in criminality in Ondo State is not a retribution or fight back by the police to teach ‘bloody civilians’ never to show disrespect to policemen in future.
THE HOPE shares in the despair and anguish of the police force who have lost gallant men and materials in the senseless carnage which swept through the country last month, hoping that the nation will never experience another doomsday again.
WE passionately appeal to Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Bolaji Salami to buckle down to arrest the breakdown of law and order threatening the state now and quickly too by asking his men back to duty immediately and to comply with the directives of the state government to confront the abhorrent development with a promise that necessary human and logistics aids will be provided to ensure the safety of the people.