A counselling and criminal justice expert from the University of Ibadan, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu has come out to say that recruitment policies of the police should be based on University and Polytechnic qualifications.

He recently revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the #EndSARS protests on Friday in Ibadan.

According to him, such certificates should be the least entry requirements into the Nigeria Police Force if we want the right people to get involved.

He added that the #EndSARS protests are just a way through which all the resentments are being expressed by the public, especially the youths, and he is proud of everyone raising a voice.

His words, “Never in the history of the Police has such opprobrium (harsh criticism) been waged against the force.

“The continued protests only indicate one thing, the deep-seated resentments against the Police. And obviously, it also showed that the public has for long been repudiating police misconducts for violence, extortion, harassment and so on.

“The #EndSARS protests are just a way through which all the resentments are being expressed by the public, especially the youths.”

“The police structure has been with us for years as bequeathed by the colonial lords. “Hence, it requires a deconstruction with a view to bringing the agency at par with basic fundamental policing principles which among others include, mission-based and people-friendly policing.

“Although the Police Act of 2020 recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari addressed some fundamental reforms in the force, there is still much to be desired if truly we want to make the police friendly and proactive.

“It is instructive therefore, to address recruitment policies of the force and make University and Polytechnic certificates the least entry requirements into the Police Force in Nigeria.”