Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on law enforcement agencies to provide comprehensive information about the well-being of protesters and those still facing charges in court.
Speaking on their behalf, Salaudeen Hashim, Programme Director of the CLEEN Foundation, told newsmen that the aim of the media engagement was to inform the world about their findings on the #EndBadGovernance protests, which ravaged the country in 2024.
He stated that during the ten-day protests held between August 1 and 10, 2024, while security agencies acted professionally in some instances, their findings revealed that information about those arrested remains scanty, reports Nigerian Tribune.
To this end, he called on law enforcement agencies to provide comprehensive information about the whereabouts and well-being of those detained.
The CSOs also advised law enforcement agencies to ensure that, in future engagements with protests, their response should be proportional to the actions and mood of the crowd.
“Police should incorporate a tiered response plan that starts at their lowest level of crowd response and allows for prompt escalation only when necessary.
“When police action is needed, it should be directed towards only those individuals displaying harmful behaviours, such as violence, property destruction, or other serious crimes.”
He emphasised the need for training officers on appropriate responses to crowd control and management, stating, “Joint training, when feasible, with multiple agencies could improve response and preparation for mass gatherings.”
He added, “Guidance and procedures for the detainment, arrest, and processing of large numbers of individuals, including the level of evidence necessary for each individual arrest, are essential.”
He also called on the federal government to strengthen the police by equipping officers through the Police Trust Fund with modern tools such as rubber bullets, water cannons, and mandatory body cameras linked to the Police C4i.
He suggested that cameras must be used during protests, arrests, and checkpoints to monitor law enforcement conduct, with public reports ensuring transparency. The Police Service Commission must discipline officers who violate protesters’ rights to prevent future abuses.
