Group moves to check police brutality, floats platform 

In commemoration of one-year anniversary of the EndSARS protests, Centre for Civic Citizens Welfare and Community Development (CWCD) Africa, in partnership with the Open Society of West Africa (OSIWA) has launched a digital intervention platform Backup, in fight against police brutality.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the CWCDA Managing Partner, Olajide Abiose, said the platform was created in response to calls for adequate solutions to the rising cases of police brutality amongst Nigerian youths.

According to him, the project centres around creating an effective system for intervention and data collection in cases of police brutality, just as improving the number of case management and preventive issues in law enforcement brutality.

Abiose said: “We believe this app will support the law enforcement agencies in identifying rogue officers tarnishing their image. The platform will enable persons whose rights are infringed on to easily gain intervention from family member, on social media or from organisations that are at the forefront of the fight against abuse of human rights.”

The Programme Coordinator of the Open Society of West Africa (OSIWA), Catherine Angai, said the backup tool would contribute to the reduction of law enforcement brutality in Nigeria and promote accountable and citizen-oriented service delivery among Nigerian security agents.

Angai noted that the data collated from the tool would provide evidence for advocacy against law enforcement brutality and solidify demands for accountability by citizens against law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

“The CANS Foundation (CWCDA) has over the years, launched other digital intervention solutions, such as UNSUB, a mobile application for gender-based violence reporting and ENGAGE, a crowdsourcing platform that allows citizens to summon governments for call to actions of areas where change is needed. Likewise, RISE, a platform that connects people in need to people of means in Nigeria has recorded great success since its launch.

“Lastly, the CANS Foundation applauds OSIWA for its lifelong partnership and support in promoting social impact and sustainable development in West Africa. Likewise, the Foundation extends its appreciation to Backup platform’s stakeholders who have shown commitment through human capital investments in ensuring success of the platform.”