By Adedamola Saka
A petition seeking to ban the police from arresting and searching youths without warrant, has garnered 66,846 signatories out of expected 75,000.
The petition was started yesterday through Change.org, by one Ayobami Arannilewa, as a result of complaints that Nigerian youths are victims of unlawful search, which has led to unjust and unequal treatment, interfering with the safety, trust and security of youth in communities.
Arannilewa said: “This is a cry out for help for the youths of Nigeria. Six out of 10 Nigerian youngsters are more likely to be assaulted, arrested and killed unjustly by the Nigeria police even when there is clearly no incriminating evidence.
“Now that the Nigerian government signed a new law enabling the police to arrest and search phones without warrant, this will worsen the situation of things in our country as the lives of the youths are at stake.
“ Years before now, many of our youths have been killed unjustly and nothing was done about it.
“The Nigerian government has made sure that we remain weak, even when the youths have no intention of exercising violence. Political parties will expect these same youths to vote them to power.
“Misplaced priorities have always been the order of the day and that is why we cry out for help. This is just one out of hundreds of circumstances that we find ourselves as a people. We need to spark change today.”
Source: The Guardian
