Some youths, under the aegis of the Gavel, a non-governmental organisation, stormed the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja on Wednesday to reject the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu’s reform of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and demanded the scrapping of the unit.
The protesters chanted solidarity songs and displayed placards with different inscriptions such as, ‘#END SARS NOW’, ‘I AM NOT A CRIMINAL #ENDSARS’, ‘Bullets At Us’, #Say No To Police Brutality’, ‘Am I Next To Die?’ The protesters mounted a tent close to the command headquarters, where they vowed to continue to sleep until their demands were met. One of the protesters, Olorunrinu Oduala, said that the protest would hold for three days, adding that they had decided to sleep at the police command headquarters because their homes were no longer safe.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while addressing the protesters, assured them of the command’s commitment to arresting and prosecuting errant personnel, who violate the order of the IG.
A similar protest was staged in Ibadan, Oyo State, by youths under the aegis of the Concerned Nigerian Youths. The Coordinator, Coalition for #Revolution Now in the state, Solomon Emiola, said, “We are here protesting the brutality of Nigerian youth by the police, especially the SARS. The rate at which they harass the citizens is so high.
“We are calling on the President, the Senate President and the Speaker to scrap SARS. We say no to it. Anywhere they see you, they will harass you. Without asking questions, they will say you are under arrest. They have killed so many youths. If we fold our arms without telling them that enough is enough, it means the future of this nation is in jeopardy. We are not satisfied with the step taken by the Inspector-General of Police. In some states, while SARS was banned, the personnel were still operating. It means that they are above the law. Is SARS not under the IG ?”
The Coordinator, Concerned Nigerian Youths, Nicholas Alabi, said, “We are calling for total end to SARS. The personnel cause more harm than good in Nigeria. They have embarrassed, harassed, kidnapped, extorted and killed thousands of Nigerian youths.”
In Benin, Edo State, angry youths also took the streets to protest against alleged inhuman treatment by SARS men on Tuesday. The youths were seen marching around the King’s Square, Sapele Road and the palace of the Oba of Benin. Receiving the protesters at the Oba’s palace, the Obahiagbon of Benin, D. A. Ehondor, promised to draw the attention of Oba Ewuare II to their requests.
PUNCH