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Tag: #EndSARS

  • Son, shot during EndSARS protest can’t walk again, uses diapers — Lagos-based widow laments

    Son, shot during EndSARS protest can’t walk again, uses diapers — Lagos-based widow laments

    Lagos State-based widow, Temitope Oshodi, has narrated how her son, Ridwan Oshodi was shot during the #ENDSARS protest in 2020.

    In October 2020, young persons across Nigeria trooped to the streets to demand an end to police brutality and to also demand “good governance”.

    The protesters were dispersed by hoodlums suspected to be sponsored by the Nigerian government and ruling All Progressives Congress after two weeks.

    According to PUNCH, Oshodi said life has been unbearable for her since Ridwan was critically injured after being shot by policemen amid the 2020 #EndSARS crisis.

    She said, “On October 20, 2020, he was at work when I called him to come back home because I heard that there was a crisis at Lekki.  We stay in Ojuelegba Area C Barracks. When I called him, he said he was very busy working on customers’ cloths. He said he had a job that he needed to finish and deliver, as the customer needed it urgently. He told me that if he was able to finish the work early enough he would come home but if not, he would sleep over at the shop. Later at night, he called me to say that he couldn’t finish the work and he would therefore sleep over in his shop. He said he would come home the following morning.

    “In the morning of the following day, after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos declared a curfew, he told me that he was done with the job and he was on his way home. Just some seconds after we spoke on phone, I heard gunshots around Ojuelegba bridge. I started to try to call him, to tell him to watch his steps.

    “Then we heard cries and shouts that Ridwan had been shot by policemen. We rushed out to rescue him. We took him to Havana Hospital nearby where he was given first aid treatment. He was shot on the stomach. The doctor said the bullet had come out of his back and that his backbone was affected. He said the case was more serious than he could handle at the hospital and referred us to LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital).

    “We still go to LUTH for physiotherapy. We pay 25,000 every month. We have started seeing some improvement. He can talk now, but he still cannot walk; he only crawls and uses diapers. Doctors are assuring us that he will walk again but they said they can’t tell how soon it will be.

    “They had earlier said he wouldn’t be able to walk again because his spinal cord was affected. So, I went to price a wheelchair; they said it was N48, 000. A friend borrowed me N20,000 to deposit for the wheelchair, and then somebody helped me to borrow money from a cooperative society. We bought the wheelchair, we buy drugs like seven times per day; we did one X-ray for N70,000, and another one for N80, 000. I have all the receipts here. We did a scan for N55, 000. I can no longer cope; the debts are becoming unbearable.

    “Last week Friday, one doctor at LUTH said we had been spending too much money, so he advised us to go to one hospital on Badagry Expressway to see another expert, so my son can walk again. When we got there, he (Ridwan) was asked to do some exercise, which he did. After the doctor examined him, he said we would have to get 350,000 for the surgery for him to walk again and also get funds to get the drugs for effective recovery. We’ve not been able to get the money; I have sold all my belongings; I have nothing left.

    “I am a widow; my husband died some years back; there is no help from anywhere. Family and friends have tried to support us the little way they could, particularly when we were in LUTH, but right now, it’s been difficult getting support. Life has not been fair, in all honesty. Ridwan is a hard-working young man but since he has been bedridden, he has become helpless and jobless.”

    Source: BBC

  • EndSars: Falz, Mr Macaroni, join Nigerians to commemorate 2nd anniversary

    In order to commemorate the second anniversary of the popular EndSars mass protest, popular rapper Falz and comedian Mr. Macaroni participated in the #EndSARSmemorial procession at the Lekki Tollgate.

    The well-known public figures were photographed with other young people who had taken to the streets at the Lekki tollgate while yelling, “We want justice!” at the top of their lungs.

    To honor the memories of demonstrators who were shot and murdered by security officers at the Lekki Tollgate two years ago, coffins were carried during the parade on Thursday.

    Videos posted online showed the celebrities and a sizable throng passing through the tollgate despite the presence of numerous police officers.

    Debo Macaroni, had already revealed via his social media accounts that he will be taking part in the walk.

    He wrote: “Peaceful Walk in honor of all Endsars and Police Brutality Victims!! 20/10/2022!!! It’s 2 Years now!! We haven’t forgotten and we will never forget!! Different rallies have been happening across the country this month. Nobody or group hijacked it. Abeg we no wan hear say anybody wan hijack this one…

    We didn’t hear that the Police arrested or brutalized anyone during the rally. Let’s maintain the same energy!
    Lastly, please this is not a political rally. Banners of political parties or candidates should not be displayed. This is strictly to honor all our fallen heroes!! God bless you ????????.”

    Nigerians took to the comment section to express their gratitude to the two celebrities who devoted their time and availed themselves to make the commemoration a success.

    Check comments below:”

    michael.anifowoshe: “So proud of these two young Nigerian celebrities and everyone out there. Proud!????”

    offishall_vee: “”As Governenent get plan, make we sef dey strategise.”

    bonpzee4al: “Well done guys. It is important we use this to remind the government what they did to innocent youth demanding for change. Yet the same government is coming to demand for vote from youths.”

    collinscrors1313: “Them don still throw teargass give dem oooook , I nor understand Nigeria ???????? again I swear”

    umezuche: “Good job my people ????????…we no go ever forget. Make dem continue lying”

    don_mata_: “The death of our passed heroes shall never been in vain.”

    johnsonbecks: “The peaceful protesters have been attached yet again by the Nigerian police with teargas”

    sammieregs: “Because them think say them wise but we be ologbon ???? make we remember them say the story neva clear who GAVE THE ORDER????? I still wan know sha”

    great_adeshola: “It’s now a game of unusual trend, we don’t belong to the generation of short memories, we’ll continue to remind them of their evil actions. #NigeriaMustBeGreat”

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Black Lives Matter: Activists demand #EndSARS protesters’ release

    Prominent Black Lives Matters activists and celebrities have written to Nigeria’s president demanding justice over the treatment of people during protests against police brutality.

    The group, which includes singer Alicia Keys and campaigner Greta Thunberg, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to free jailed protesters.

    They also called for a “transparent investigation” into the alleged killing of protesters by armed forces.

    “We cannot stay silent,” they said.

    Witnesses say they saw soldiers open fire on protesters at a toll gate in the wealthy Lagos suburb of Lekki on 20 October. It followed weeks of protests, which began against the now-disbanded, much-hated police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars), but then morphed into greater calls for better governance.

    “In the midst of a global pandemic, your people sought to bring peace and justice to their land, and they made Africa and its diaspora proud in doing so,” the letter to President Buhari said.

    “Yet their peaceful requests were met with state-sanctioned violence and suppression, as your administration meted out unwarranted force against its own unarmed citizens.”

    The letter was organised by #BlackLivesMatter movement co-founder Opal Tometi, and timed to coincide with International Human Rights Day.

    Other signatories included actors Kerry Washington, Danny Glover and Mark Ruffalo, as well as writers Afua Hirsch, Reni Eddo-Lodge and Naomi Klein.

    “As people who have supported the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States and throughout the diaspora, we cannot be silent when similar atrocities take place in African countries,” the letter said.

    “We demand respect for the Nigerian people, especially as they engage in their constitutional right to protest grave injustices.”

    “We demand respect for the Nigerian people, especially as they engage in their constitutional right to protest grave injustices.”

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    Analysis box by Mayeni Jones, Nigeria correspondent

    For Black Lives Matter, highlighting injustices on the African continent is part of its wider mission to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities by the state.

    Many of the signatories to the letter are members of the African diaspora, including Opal Tometi, whose parents are Nigerian. She told the BBC she has friends and family in Nigeria, so this feels personal. She believes the international community needs to continue to apply pressure on the Nigerian government to deliver justice for victims of brutality by the armed forces.

    However despite the big name endorsements, it’s unlikely the letter will lead to a change of tack from the Nigerian government.

    In the immediate aftermath of the Lekki tollgate shooting, public figures, including former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and President-elect Joe Biden, called on the Nigerian government to hold those accountable responsible.

    But the comments were brushed off by the authorities; and just this week President Buhari reiterated that any form of violent protest would not be tolerated.

    On Monday there was a heavy police presence around the tollgate following calls for a second phase of protests to begin. It seems the authorities are determined to stop a repeat of the scenes of widespread street protests across Nigeria in October.

    However stopping the #EndSARS social media campaign will not be so easy. Young Nigerians have seen how much influence they can yield – this letter is evidence of that.

    Just last night at the Mobos, Afro pop singer Tiwa Savage referred to the Lekki tollgate shooting in her performance, singing “who gave the order?” Young Nigerians have vowed not to give up until the question is answered.

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    As well as demanding the release of all jailed protesters, activists and journalists, the signatories demand that all soldiers and security officials responsible for the shootings at Lekki Toll Gate are held to account, and that the ban on peaceful protests is lifted.

    Amnesty International says 12 people were killed in the shooting, although the Nigerian army insists its soldiers were firing blank bullets.

    A judicial panel has been set up in Lagos to investigate both events at Lekki and the activities of Sars. While it promises neutrality and justice, some protesters say they fear government retribution if they speak out.

    Since the protests, a number of activists say they have been targeted by the authorities. Some have had their bank accounts frozen by the Nigerian Central Bank and some have been detained without charge, before being eventually released.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Police warn against return of #EndSARS protests

    There are reports of heavy police presence in parts of Lagos state after authorities warned against resumption of #EndSARS protests across Nigeria.

    Police in Lagos had issued a statement on Sunday against planned demonstrations on Monday, warning that protesters would be resisted.

    “Some unpatriotic individuals and groups are planning to embark on the replica of the recent destructive and violent #EndSARS protest that left pains and agonies in the state,” Spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in the statement.

    “Lagos State is still nurturing the wounds orchestrated by some violent #EndSARS protesters and not fit to accommodate such protest for now.”

    The #EndSars protests shook Nigeria for two weeks in October as the country’s youths campaigned against a now disbanded police unit known as Sars. The nationwide demonstrations that morphed into calls for an end to bad governance were halted after the army was brought in to disperse protesters in the Lekki area of Lagos on 20 October.

    Amnesty International and eyewitnesses say more than 10 people were killed at the location, an allegation that has been denied by Nigerian authorities.

    Judicial panels in many states are investigating the activities of Sars – a demand of the #EndSARs campaign, but there have been calls for demonstrations to resume after the government targeted protesters.

    Since the protests were halted some of the protest organisers have been arrested and released while others still have their bank accounts frozen.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Nigeria MPs ‘invite’ Buhari to give massacre briefing

    Image caption: MPs have summoned the Nigerian president

    Nigerian MPs have summoned President Muhammadu Buhari over the recent killing of at least 43 farmers in north-east Borno State, local media report.

    The lawmakers while debating the motion said it was of urgent national importance.

    Most of those killed on the Saturday attack – which was claimed by Islamist militant group Boko Haram – were rice farmers in Zabarmari, a community in Jere Local Government Area.

    More than a dozen others are missing, reports say.

    The United Nations has retracted its initial casualty figure of 110 farmers killed, saying the number was not yet confirmed.

    The army has come under heavy criticism following the massacre but blamed lack of equipment for its inability to tackle the insurgency.

    It also accused residents of working as informants for the militants.

    Source: bbc.com

  • End Sars protests: The Nigerian women leading the fight for change

    Rinu Oduala is 22 years old and outspoken – Nigeria’s government feels so threatened by her that her bank account has been frozen.

    She was among tens of thousands of young Nigerians, including many women, who made history with the protests that swept the country in October against police brutality.

    Ms Oduala was one of the first to take to the streets after a video went viral of a man allegedly being killed by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars), sparking what became known as the EndSars demonstrations.

    She set up camp outside the Lagos governor’s office on 7 October, demanding the police unit be disbanded.

    As a media strategist, she knew how to rally people on social media to join her – organising blankets for people who ended up sleeping outside the state government buildings for 72 hours before police attacked them.

    With her 172,000 Twitter followers, she is one of several women who have shaken the Nigerian establishment to its core over the last six weeks. Her EndSars activism saw her Twitter account get the blue verified badge.

    EndSars protesters in Lagos, Nigeria - 13 October 2020
    What began as a protest against police brutality has become a conduit for young people – especially women – to vent their anger

    Today she is part of a panel in Lagos sitting at a judicial inquiry into police abuse – one of the key demands of the protesters after the president disbanded the unit.

    But she is concerned about her security and is one of 20 protest organisers to have their funds frozen by the central bank early in November.

    “It’s disheartening that our good intention of ending police brutality would make us get tagged as terrorists,” she told the BBC.

    The central bank says it sought a court order to block the accounts for 90 days in order to find out the source of their funds.

    Ms Oduala says her lawyers are challenging the order.

    ‘This is just the beginning’

    Another female EndSars activist – lawyer Modupe Odele – had her passport confiscated last month. She had offered legal aid to those arrested during the demonstrations.

    And last week, the website of the Feminist Coalition – a group set up by around 10 women in July to fight for gender equality, which became active during the EndSars protests – was blocked inside Nigeria and it is not clear who was behind the move.

    During the protests the non-governmental organisation raised $385,000 (£290,000) through crowdfunding and spent part of the money on legal services for those protesters who were arrested, to pay medical bills for those wounded, to provide private security at protest points and daily refreshments.

    The group says the rest of the funds are to be used to provide support, including mental health counselling, for victims of police brutality and the families of those who died.

    It also hopes to sponsor a memorial for those killed by the police.

    “This is just the beginning of a youth awakening in Nigeria, of things that we can do to improve the state of the country,” Fakhrriyyah Hashim, a co-Founder of Feminist Coalition, told the BBC.

    “We will continue to do this, especially in the lives of women,” she said.

    Nigeria may be a very patriarchal society, but women have always been vocal in demanding change, most notably during the anti-colonial struggle.

    So the organising power of the women on the EndSars frontlines should not surprise the authorities.

    In 1929 the Aba women’s riots – also referred to as the “Women’s War” – were sparked by plans to tax southern market women. Over two months, thousands of women were involved in protests that saw colonial shops and banks attacked and courts burnt down. In the end the colonial administrators backed down.

    Eighteen years later, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, mother of the famous Afrobeat star Fela Kuti, successfully mobilised thousands of women against more proposed taxes to be levied on small traders.

    Dubbed the Lioness of Lisabi, she became a firm advocate for women’s suffrage and an important figure in the fight for independence.

    The estimated 20,000 women who joined her Abeokuta Women’s Union were known for their persistence, never giving up until achieving their aim.

    “The history of Nigeria has had a lot of women come out to fight and push for their rights. Those battles strong women before us fought have been downplayed,” said Ndi Kato, a gender activist who participated in the EndSars protests.

    EndSars’ backbone

    No-one knows this more than Aisha Yesufu, co-founder of the Bring Back Our Girls Movement, which has been working over the last six years to rescue the schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok by Islamist Boko Haram militants.

    She was among the EndSars protesters who were tear-gassed by police in the capital, Abuja.

    But she didn’t run away from the fracas and her picture of defiance later became one of the symbols of the EndSars movement.

    Ms Yesufu says it is not surprising that women became the backbone of the EndSars protests.

    “Women have always been the ones who get things done. Any protest that led to change has always been women-led,” she told me.

    “The EndSars protest went as far as it did because of the role women played. Especially the Feminist Coalition, those women were amazing. Their co-ordination was impressive.”

    ‘Unstoppable’

    Ms Kato says it is not the end of road: “The fact that young people are re-strategising, going back to the drawing board and looking for several ways to get our voices to be heard does not mean that we have stopped protesting.”

    Women have shown during EndSars how they can use both social media and offline strategies to get their voices heard – which Ms Yesufu says they should use to their advantage in the fight for gender equality.

    “Women should look beyond feminism to femi-power. It’s time to put ourselves to places we need to be. We have to stop asking to be invited to the table, we should create the table,” she said.

    “It’s time for any woman that feels like going into politics to do so without looking back. We should not doubt ourselves. Let’s take our place and be unapologetic about it.”

    Ms Oduala agrees the fight will go on.

    “The future for women looks bright because we all saw what we could do, so if women decide to do anything for themselves or their community they would be unstoppable.”

    By Azeezat Olaoluwa
    Women’s Affairs Reporter, West Africa

    Source: bbc.com

  • ‘The governor called us’: Nigeria army tells inquiry it was asked to break up protest

    A senior officer in the Nigerian army has told a judicial panel investigating the deadly shooting against protestors in October that soldiers intervened following an appeal by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos state.

    But Brigadier General Ahmed Taiwo denied accusations that security forces fired at protestors who had gathered at the Lekki toll gate.

    “I spoke with the governor and said the army was unhappy that he (the Governor) said he did not ask the army to intervene but I am sure, after we have watched everything, we saw he had more than reasonable grounds to ask the army to intervene, perhaps it was the way everything went that made him say so”, Taiwo told the investigating panel.

    Taiwo’s testimony could help unravel the events that preceded the deadly violence, with officials not keen to accept responsibility.

    Several officials have denied giving security forces orders to use force.

    “We saw he (Governor) had more than reasonable grounds to ask the army to intervene, perhaps it was the way everything went that made him say so,” Taiwo added.

    Nearly 70 people were killed in the violence as Nigeria moved to end weeks of protests against police brutality.

    Rights groups have urged president Muhamadu Buhari to ensure that victims get get justice.

    Nigeria says the rallies had been infiltrated by looters and criminal gangs.

    Source: Bernard Avle

  • SARS protests will not be replicated in other countries – Vladimir Antwi Danso

    Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, Dean of Academic Affairs, Ghana Armed Forces and Staff College, says the end SARS protests in Nigeria, would not necessarily be replicated in other African countries.

    Dr Antwi-Danso who is also an International Relations Expert said unlike the Arab spring pro-democracy riots and protests that happened in the Middle East and North Africa about ten years ago, the Nigerian riots pertained to Nigeria’s own unique socio-political circumstances, and had absolutely no connection with the rest of the continent,

    Dr Antwi-Danso told the Ghana News in an interview that if it so happened that any country had similar circumstances that logically held a threat for a replication of the anti-SARS riots in Nigeria, then, such replication could happen.

    On the role of ECOWAS in the entire impasse, the International Affairs expert cautioned that ECOWAS should desist from what he described as “stampeding” their will unto the Nigerian Government, towards finding a solution to the crisis.

    He said this was because Nigeria was a complete sovereignty, and that the situation currently pertaining was quite within the ability of the Nigerian Government to handle.

    Dr Antwi-Danso said ECOWAS could play a quiet, diplomatic role in the background at the moment, but had to completely stay out of actual administrative decision-taking in Nigeria because that totally lay in the hands of the Nigerian government.

    He also urged journalists to be highly responsible with their reportage and discussions concerning the event, and avoid discussions that could further escalate the situation in that country.

    The International Affairs expert advised the Nigerian government to be very sensitive to the concerns of the demonstrators, and handle them with lots of tact and care.

    Amnesty International says at least 12 people were killed at Lekki, a city within Lagos State last Tuesday after Nigerian security forces were said to have opened fire on them, while they protested against police brutalities in Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the disbandment of SARS following the protests and asked the Nigerian security agencies to operate within the confines of the country’s laws, adding that they should avoid any moves that could aggravate the situation.

    The President has also asked the protesters to cease rioting and engage with the government.

    The anti-SARS protests begun about two weeks ago, after a video in which a man was being beaten by men in police attire suspected to belong to the Special Anti-Armed Robbery Squad known as the SARS, got circulated within Nigeria.

    Source: GNA

  • Nigerian looters target government stores

    There have been widespread looting incidents in several states across Nigeria as hundreds of young people continue to storm government stores as well as private properties in unrest sparked by anti-police brutality protests.

    The UN humanitarian co-ordinator in the country Edward Kallon says some UN facilities including vehicles were also attacked in the southern city of Calabar by what he described as vandals trying to discredit the anti-police brutality protests. He called on young people to exercise restraint.

    In the northern Nigerian state of Adamawa, a government spokesperson told the BBC stampedes during looting at government facilities left at least five people dead.

    More than 400 people have been arrested in Lagos and Plateau states in connection with mass looting and violence there.

    There are reports of arrests in several other states.

    Food items, medicines and farming inputs such as fertilisers are among items looted in the attacks.

    Relief food meant to help the poor during the Covid-19 pandemic, allegedly hoarded by some state governments, were also looted. Some of the officials have denied the allegation.

    Private properties and those of UN agencies were also targeted in some places.

    Criminals causing mayhem have allegedly infiltrated the demonstrations which have now been called off.

    Source: bbc.com

  • End SARS: Buhari gives breakdown of people killed during protests

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said at least 69 people have been killed during the #EndSARS protests across the country.

    According to the BBC, Buhari gave the number during a virtual meeting with former leaders and security chiefs on Friday.

    He was quoted as saying 51 civilians, 11 police officers and seven soldiers had died.

    A statement released by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, at the end of the meeting also quoted Buhari as saying it is unfortunate that the “initial genuine and well-intended protest of youths was hijacked and misdirected”.

    The past Nigerian leaders present at the meeting included Gen. Yakubu Gowon, President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Gen. Abulsalami Abubakar and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Each of them commended President Buhari for steps taken so far, in restoring peace and order in the country and also applauded the presidential broadcast of Thursday.

    Source: dailypost.ng

  • Ghana is not our home – Nigerian Community Ghana warns potential protesters

    The National Executives of the All Nigerian Community (ANC) in Ghana on Friday, October 2020 held a press conference in Ghana’s capital, Accra to address the unfortunate incidents that have characterized the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria and other cities across the globe.

    The presser comes days after the demise of some twelve peaceful protesters at the Lekki tollgate after personnel from the Nigerian military allegedly opened fire.

    Speaking to journalists in Accra, the General Secretary of the Nigerian community in Ghana, Isaac Ekhator through a statement warned Nigerians domiciled in Ghana to be mindful of laws of the host nation before embarking on any sort of protest.

    According to him, Nigerians in Ghana may exercise their right to draw the attention of the home government to anomalies and aberrations in their home country but in ways and manners that would not disrupt the existing peace in Ghana and with other host countries.

    “The leadership of the Nigerian Community Ghana wishes to reiterate that Nigerians in Ghana should be mindful of her fact that Ghana is not our homeland.”

    “As foreigners in Ghana or in other countries, we have limited rights and we can only operate with the legal and social latitude permitted by the host countries.”

    “Despite the warm hospitality accorded us Nigerians in Ghana we should not take for granted the largesses and privileges.”

    “Though the political atmosphere of any country in the ECOWAS sub-region is always of concern and interest to the entire community those other countries should not be subjected to be direct victims of the crises in Nigeria.”

    Prior to this press conference, Nigerians living in Ghana had already two protests.

    The first, which was led by a famous Nigerian artist, Zlatan was held barely a week after the End SARS protest began nationwide. The second, despite been cancelled at the venue of the protest was fairly successful.

    The protesters accused the Buhari-led administration of sponsoring terrorism.

    “Let it be on record that the Nigerian government is sponsoring and supporting terrorism. At this point, some of my friends were at the rally yesterday and I am calling them today, they can’t even pick. I don’t know whether they are alive or not. They are killing our brothers and sisters who are peaceful protesters we want the world to know,” he told MyNigeria.com correspondent in Accra.

    Source: mynigeria.com

  • #EndSARS: Listen to voices of the youth Johnson Sirleaf

    Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called on African leaders to listen to and engage the youth and not try to silence them.

    Her call comes on the back of the ongoing protests and violence in Nigeria for better governance and an end to police brutality.

    Commenting on the development, Johnson Sirleaf called for a de-escalation of the festering violence in Nigeria.

    She tweeted: “The right to peacefully protest must be protected. I join the calls for an immediate de-escalation of violence against the #EndSARS protestors. It is critical that we listen to, and engage with, the voices of the youth—not try to silence them.”

    Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on the youth and civil society organisations of Nigeria to pursue dialogue to ensure an early and cordial resolution to the ongoing social unrest in order to safeguard its image as a peaceful state.

    A statement issued on Wednesday, 21 October 2020, signed by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Jean Claude-Kassi Brou, said it has noted with “concern” that “demonstrations by Nigerian youth calling for police reform, particularly the abolition of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, accused of misconduct by those demonstrating, have turned violent.”

    The Commission expressed its “condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives during the protests” and wished the “injured a speedy recovery.”

    It continued that while it “recognises the right of citizens to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and protests, it is also of the view that those rights should be exercised in a non-violent manner.”
    The Commission also called “on all protesters to remain peaceful in the conduct of their demonstrations” and urged the Nigerian security operatives to exercise restraint in the handling of the protests and act professionally.

    “ECOWAS Commission further notes that, in an effort to address the demands of the protesting youth, the Federal Government of Nigeria took important decisions regarding disbandment of SARS, comprehensive police reforms and investigation of cases of police brutality. It encourages the Nigerian Authorities to conduct the investigation rapidly”.

    It also appealed to the “Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian youth and the civil society to urgently pursue dialogue for an early and amicable resolution of this social unrest and maintain the Nigerian image as a bastion of law and order.”

    A number of protesters were reportedly shot dead or wounded on Tuesday night when armed uniformed officers opened fire on them at the commercial hub of Lagos.

    The military has denied involvement.

    Source: Class FM

  • No African country has moral right to criticise abuse against EndSARS protestors Analyst

    Security analyst, Col (rtd) Festus Aboagye, has said the use of state security against peaceful protests has become prevalent in Africa.

    According to him, no African country currently has the moral right to ask Nigeria to stop the human rights abuses against protestors that have been recorded in the wake of the End SARS protests.

    His comments to GhanaWeb follow protests by tens of thousands of Nigerian youth against police brutality.

    The youth have demanded the abolition of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which has been accused of unlawful arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

    Violent escalation on October 20, 2020, in Lagos, which resulted in multiple deaths, has further agitated protestors.

    The UN, AU and ECOWAS have all condemned the attacks on the protestors.

    “No African leader has the moral high ground to go and preach to his or her neighbour because, invariably, you find similar situations in all countries.

    “In Ghana Ayawaso West Wuogon comes to mind. It is not about how many people were injured and that nobody died. It is about the sheer use of coercive force by institutions that are grounded in the constitution to go and conduct some kind of paramilitary operations that are resulting in the injuries and so on,” he told GhanaWeb.

    He said it is possible Nigerians would head to Ghana over the tensions in that country because Ghana presents the most favourable country for them in terms of language and shared history.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Hold perpetrators of riots in Nigeria accountable Hanna Tetteh

    Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, the Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), has called for a thorough investigations into the ongoing disturbance in Nigeria.

    The former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said the perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions that resulted in the bloody disturbances in the oil-producing West African nation.

    Ms Tetteh in multiple tweets said “I join the UN Secretary General in expressing condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured and calling on the Nigerian authorities to investigate these incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable.”

    She added “The Secretary-General encourages the authorities to swiftly explore avenues to de-escalate the situation.

    “He reiterates the readiness of the United Nations to support national efforts towards finding a solution.”

    Source: 3 News

  • ‘You have the right to protest but not in a violent manner’ ECOWAS to Nigerians

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has said it has noted with concern that demonstrations by Nigerian youth calling for police reform, particularly the abolition of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, accused of misconduct by those demonstrating, have turned violent.

    Scores of Nigerians and some security officers have been killed during the violent protests in the oil-producing West African nation.

    The Commission in a statement on Wednesday, October 21 expressed its condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives during the protests and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.

    “While ECOWAS Commission recognizes the right of citizens to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and protests, it also wishes to stress that those rights should be exercised in a non-violent manner.

    “In this regard, ECOWAS Commission calls on all protesters to remain peaceful in the conduct of their demonstrations. It also urges the Nigerian security operatives to exercise restraint in the handling of the protests and act professionally,” the statement said.

    It added that “ECOWAS Commission further notes that, in an effort to address the demands of the protesting youth, the Federal Government of Nigeria took important decisions regarding disbandment of SARS, comprehensive police reforms and investigation of cases of police brutality. It encourages the Nigerian Authorities to conduct the investigation rapidly.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Nigerians remember those lost to police brutality in #EndSARS vigil

    Thousands of Nigerians gathered on Sunday for a vigil to remember those who lost their lives at the hands of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) — a police unit accused of brutality and human rights crimes.

    Created in 1984 to combat growing robberies in Nigeria, the unit is now disbanded following one of the largest youth-led protests the country has seen in a decade launched earlier in October by way of the social media movement #EndSARSNow.

    Around 100 people have been injured and at least ten have died in the demonstrations due to what Amnesty International believes was the use of excessive force by the police. Nigerian youth are now calling for national police reform.

    Source: africanews.com/ap

  • New police unit to replace Nigeria’s ‘rogue’ squad

    The head of Nigerian police says a new unit has been set up to replace the controversial Special Anti Robbery Squad, known as Sars, which was disbanded following protests over human rights abuses.

    The new unit will be known as Swat or the Special Weapons and Tactics Team.

    Correspondents say many Nigerians are sceptical and continue to protest to call for major police reforms.

    In a bid to address the concerns the police chief said all members from the disbanded Sars unit would undergo a psychological and medical examination before further training and redeployment.

    He also ordered the unconditional release of all people arrested during the protests.

    Source: bbc.com

  • How Zlatan led Nigeria’s #EndSARS protest in Ghana

    Singer and songwriter, Zlatan Ibile led a peaceful protest in Ghana’s capital, Accra, today, 13 October calling for the end of police brutality, and extra-judicial killing by members of the now-defunct, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    This was the second physical protest held in the diaspora after a successful exercise in London over the weekend.

    Zlatan, who is in Ghana for a music project with rapper, Sarkodie followed in the footsteps of several famous people in Nigeria and across the globe.

    According to the ‘Gbese’ hitmaker, the dissolution of SARS is the first of a long lst of demands the Nigerian youth are clamouring for.

    Spotted in a green beret, Zlatan led a punch of charged Nigerians mostly students and entrepreneurs.

    They chanted songs of dissatisfaction while they wielded placards with the now-famous inscription, #EndSARSNow.

    Other protesters could be seen in their customized T-shirt, waving banners and placards with inscriptions; ‘Stop Police Brutality’, ‘PMB Give Us Electricity, ‘Nigerian Youth Will Not Be Silenced’,’Having A Laptop Is Not A Crime, #ENDSARSNow’ written all over them.

    Despite the dissolution of SARS by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu on Sunday, October 11, 2020, the protests have spread rapidly across the country.

    While, celebrities Falz, Runtown, Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy and comedian MrMacaroni led protests in several parts of Lagos; Phyno and Flavor also cordinated efforts from the Eastern part of Nigeria. Davido led a group from Abuja.

    Watch the video below:


    Source: mynigeria.com

  • #EndSARS protesters defy Nigerian governor

    Protesters in Nigeria’s southern state of Rivers are marching to the government house in the state capital, Port Harcourt, in defiance of the governor who banned all forms of protests.

    Governor Nyesom Wike had on Monday said that there was no need for the #EndSARS protests after demonstrations continued in other parts of the country despite authorities disbanding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars), which was notorious for unlawful arrests and murder.

    “Law enforcement agencies are also directed to ensure that the ban is enforced and that violators are brought to book,” his spokesperson Paulinus Nsirim said in a statement posted on Twitter.

    But despite heavy police presence, protesters still turned up at the Pleasure Park – their agreed venue on the outskirts of the city from where they started marching along a main road.

    One of the protesters, Gospel Orji, told the BBC that they were headed to government house to speak to the governor about his pronouncement.

    “This is no longer a protest, it is a movement,” he said.

    “We are going to show them that power belongs to the people,” he said.

    Demonstrations are also ongoing in several other states in the country despite assurances on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari that the disbandment of Sars was the first step in reforming the police.

    On the same day, a civilian and a police officer were killed in the commercial capital, Lagos, casting doubts on the sincerity of authorities to end police brutality.

    The cities where demonstrations are now taking place are:

    • Port Harcourt
    • Aba
    • Enugu
    • Ibadan
    • Lagos
    • Jos
    • Abuja

    Protesters want authorities to arrest and prosecute police officers who have been involved in the deaths and harassment of citizens since the demonstrations started last week, as a show of seriousness about police reforms.

    Source: bbc.com

  • End SARS: Unity is always formidable – Lawyer hails Nigerian youth after protest

    A Nigerian lawyer and political commentator has said that the strength and unity of the Nigerian youth cannot be questioned after a nationwide protest led to the dissolution of the infamous Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    His comment follows the televised announcement by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu in Abuja on Sunday, October 12 (yesterday) that the police have dissolved the special unit.

    Prior to this, many Nigerians had hit the streets of major cities including Lagos and Abuja to drive home their demands of new reforms of the police service.

    Using the #EndSARS slogan, Nigerians far and wide both online and offline accused SARS and the police administration of theft, harassment, and battery.

    Famous celebrity such as Davido, Wizkid, Falz, Runtown, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage and comedian MrMacaroni joined and led protests in many parts of the country.

    Speaking to MyNigeria.com, Vice President, Synergies Institute-Ghana, Mr Ogochukwu Nweke said the success of the protest strengthens the school of thought that unity is always formidable.

    “This is the result of a collective effort. Unity is always formidable and productive. We might not all be friends and we might not all agree on the details of the matter, but we all agree that the matter has gone far enough.”

    He continued: “This is a mere foretaste of the change that is capable of happening in Nigeria if the people unite on a matter. It is the beginning of a revival that will change many things, if we keep the fire burning and refuse to be polluted,” he added.

    Despite the dissolution of SARS, some Lagosians residing on the island have taken to the streets to continue their protests demanding more reforms of the police service.

    An image cited by MyNigeria.com show hundreds of residents as they trooped the popular Lekki Toll Gate bringing vehicular movement to a complete halt.

    Some members of the police force were on-hand to ensure the protest was peaceful.

    Meanwhile, popular Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Balogun popularly known in the showbiz circle as Wizkid has urged the youth to use their vote to determine the fortunes of the country heading into the next general elections in 2023.

    Following in the path of other celebrity colleagues who thronged the streets in protest, Wizkid in a tweet shortly after the protest ended in the United Kingdom dropped a word of advice for the youth.

    According to Wizkid, there is a need for youths in the country to show their real power in the next general elections.

    “Next election we show real power.” Singer Wizkid tweeted.

    The tweet was also accompanied by a unique hashtag against police brutality in the country.

    Source: mynigeria.com

  • Buhari pledges ‘extensive’ police reforms

    Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has promised “extensive” police reforms as protests against police brutality continue despite his announcement that the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad has been disbanded.

    In a video posted on Twitter, he also promised justice for victims of police abuse, and expressed regret for the loss of lives in south-western Oyo state during the protests.

    Mr Buhari added that most police officers were hard-working, and the reputation of the force should not be tarnished by a “few bad eggs”.

    You can watch him speak here:

    Source: bbc,com

  • #EndSARS protests: Nigeria abolishes loathed federal special police unit

    Nigeria has dissolved the special police force at the centre of protests against police brutality.

    The government said a special presidential directive had ordered the immediate dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars).

    All the officers in the squad will be redeployed and a new arrangement to replace the squad is being worked on.

    Protests against the squad were sparked by a video of a man allegedly being killed by police.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier said he was determined to end police brutality, introduce reforms and bring “erring personnel… to justice”.

    The Sars was widely accused of unlawful arrests, torture and murder.

    The protesters demanded the unit be disbanded rather than reformed because previous commitments to change the behaviour of the police had had no effect.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Nigerias Inspector General of Police dissolves SARS

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has announced a dissolution of a subunit of the force, the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).

    Adamu made the announcement on Sunday, days after a public outcry and series of protests calling for a scrapping of the unit over allegations of brutality and human rights violations.

    “The Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police, otherwise known as SARS, is hereby dissolved across all formations, the 36 state police command and the Federal Capital Territory where they currently exist,” the IGP said.

    Also, in a statement, the Force Public Relations Office, Force Headquarters, Dcp Frank Mba, noted that “the dissolution of SARS is in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian people”.

    He explained that “the Force is not oblivious of the ever-present need to combat armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country which was before now the core mandate of the erstwhile Squad”.

    Mba, therefore, assured that that a new policing arrangement to address anticipated policing gaps which the dissolution of SARS would cause, has been evolved and shall be announced in due course.

    Source: gossib24.com