(centre) at an #EndSARS protest held in Lagos.
Many Nigerians have continued to proclaim #EndSars
slogans on streets across the country, insisting on the scrapping
of an infamous police unit.
The unit at the centre of the storm, the Special Anti-Robbery
Squad, was founded in 1992 to combat cases of armed robbery,
kidnapping, and other violent crimes. But SARS, instead, over time,
has gained notoriety for its reckless intimidation of innocent
civilians through puerile profiling and wanton abuse of power.
Calls for the unit’s disbandment dates as far back as 2017;
while the Federal Government and police chiefs have made several
pledges to implement reform, reports of SARS’ brutal activities
against civilians have not abated.
The current wave of protest can be traced to October 3, after
another report of extra-judicial killing in Delta State (the police
have denied any killing took place).
It sparked fresh concerns and anger. Fuelled by this, and the
outpouring of tales of traumatic experiences at the hands of
officials of the unit, many Nigerians have held protests in many
states, including Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna,
Osun, Edo, and Imo.
The protests continued on Saturday as participants dismissed the
ban on SARS patrol, announced on Sunday last week, by the
Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu and the statement by
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday asking the IGP to address the
excesses of erring officials and “ensure that the Police are fully
accountable to the people.”
Protesting Nigerians say similar promises in the past yielded no
change; they want SARS scrapped.
Read on for updates about the latest developments from and
around the protests.
Atiku Condemns Use Of Force On Protesters
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the use of
force on #EndSARS protesters across Nigeria.
In a series of tweets on Saturday, Atiku also called on relevant
authorities to ensure the youths are heard.
Read the full story here.
Protest Spreads To Bayelsa
20:00 – Amnesty International says it is
receiving reports of the police firing live ammunition and tear gas
at protesters in Abuja, the nation’s seat of power.
We are receiving disturbing reports of
police firing live ammunition and tear gas at #EndSARS protesters
at Police HQ Abuja. Protest is not a crime. Using lethal force on
protesters is a violation of right to freedom of assembly.
#EndSarsNow— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) October 10, 2020
19:31 – Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has
expressed sadness over the death of Jimoh Isiaka, “who was shot
during the EndSars protest in Ogbomoso” today.
I have received with deep sadness the news
of the passing of one of our children, Jimoh Isiaka, who was shot
during the ENDSARS protest in Ogbomoso. He later died at Bowen
University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, earlier today.
pic.twitter.com/3elzVeRkwk— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) October 10, 2020
Davido To Lead Protest In Abuja
Tomorrow
Popular musician Davido has announced that he will be leading
the #EndSARS protest on Sunday.
The singer said this on Saturday through his Instagram post.
He called on Nigerians living in Abuja to come and join him in
the protest.
Read the full story here.
19:01 – Music Disc Jockey and Internet
Celebrity, DJ Cuppy, says she has flown in from Dubai to Lagos to
join the #EndSars protest.
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Finally able fly to
Lagos and join the #EndSars protest.…So inspired by all the young
people out there risking their lives to amplify awareness. See you
soon!
18:50 – English Premier League striker of
Nigerian descent, Tammy Abraham, has joined in the call for
#EndSars.
Dear Nigeria #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality
— Tammy Abraham (@tammyabraham) October 10, 2020
18:30 – Big Brother Nigeria 2020 winner,
Laycon, has been tweeting in support of the #EndSars movement.
You don’t have to go through it to speak
about it or make a change, you just gotta give a damn ! God bless
everyone protesting and everyone lending a voice in one way or
another. The will of the people is the will of the State.+
#EndSARS
#EndPoliceBrutality #EndSarsNow— Laycon #EndSARS
18:23 – Okay, some ‘peaceful’ news here.
Lagos state government spokesman, Gawat Jubril, says some
protesters were allowed to join police vehicles after getting weary
from walking.
In Ikorodu today, Some #EndSARS Protesters
were tired of walking and decided to join police vehicles to
continue their peaceful protest and they were all allowed …
including the DPO Sagamu road’s vehicle.PEACE !!!! pic.twitter.com/waF7ega4Tn
— Gawat Jubril A. (@Mr_JAGss) October 10, 2020
18:21 – Amnesty International is reporting
that the Nigerian police has killed a protester in Ogbomosho, Oyo
state.
Jimoh Isiaq; a protester was killed by
Nigerian Police @PoliceNG today in #Ogbomoso #EndSARS
#EndSarsNow— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) October 10, 2020
18:20 – It appears religious organisations
are now choosing to pledge support for the #EndSars movement.
Reposted from @thestarhub_ We won’t be
sitting this one out!Many of our brothers & sisters have been treated unjustly,
exploited and intimidated.We deserve to live, dress, work & move freely.
We deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
We say #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/puB6kGb5z7
— DaystarNG (@DaystarNG) October 10, 2020
18:16 – Activist Omoyele Sowore, says
protesters will camp at the Police Headquarters in Abuja
tonight.
#EndSARS Abuja team sleeping over at the
@PoliceNG Force Headquarters tonight! Please join in bring them
food, water, tents and sleeping mats, mosquito repellents etc
#NoGoingBack #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/8b3M61kymP— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) October 10, 2020
Burna Boy Pitches In
Afrobeats-sensation, Burna Boy has also joined the #EndSars
movement.
He issued a statement on Saturday announcing the birth of a
project which he called PROJECTPROTECT, an
initiative set up to provide financial, medical, and legal
resources during and after #ENDSARS protests.
Read the full story here.
‘We’re Scared To Visit Home’: Nigerian
Players, Arsenal’s Ian Wright, AS Roma Back #EndSARS
Nigerian players, Arsenal legend, Ian Wright and Italian side,
AS Roma, have thrown their weight behind the #EndSARProtests,
demanding an end to brutality, extra-judicial killings and
extortion by officials of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi, Leon Balogun; Moses Simon; Henry
Onyekuru, Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, Shehu Abdullahi; John
Ogu; and Henry Onyekuru, took to their Twitter handles, on Friday
and Saturday, backing calls to #EndSARS.
Read the full story here.
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/10/11/live-endsars-protests-continue-gain-momentum/