By Ayo Kehinde and Nkeremwem Cosmas
Protesters on streets in Rivers State
Few days after thousands of Nigerians took to social media to denounce what they termed the hooliganism and barbarism of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, popularly known as SARS and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris pledged to look into their complaints, protests for and against the ‘End SARS Campaign’ took to the streets to register their demands.
From Rivers State to Anambra, Ogun, Kwara Lagos states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Nigerians spoke for and against the call for the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad , SARs, in Nigerian Police Force
In Rivers State, the protest which was organised by an NGO, the Grassroots Development Initiative, the protesters marched on the Police Command Headquarters with placards which read: “Sack Akin Fakorede now”, Stop killings by SARs”, President Buhari call SARs to order”, End the killings by SARS “ and “End SARs brutality Now”.
At the police headquarters yesterday, President-General of Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, Mr Bright Amaehwule, berated the Special Anti-Robbery Squad for turning themselves into a tool used by some politicians to perpetrate crime against Nigerians. He, therefore, called for the immediate sack and prosecution of the Rivers SARs commander, Akin Fakorede, who he alleged was captured on tape committing electoral fraud.
In Kwara State, where the protesters took to major streets such as Stadium, Taiwo, Murtala Mohammed Way, Maraba,Unity and Challenge, and ended at the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, along Offa road, where they called on the National Assembly and Federal Government to save defenceless Nigerians from the attack of what they called vicious SARs men, according to spokesperson of the protesters, Mr. Yomi Akande. Addressing the rally the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawan Ado, said the police command would not condone any act of anti-human conduct from SARS operatives in the state.
In Abuja the protest was which was in support of the SARs was coordinated by the Concerned Men and Women Association of Nigeria with membership drawn from the Police Community Relations Committee, The Eminent Persons Forum and market men and women who gathered at at the Eagle square before marching on the Force Headquarters and demanded to meet with the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
According to the National Coordinator of the Concerned Men and Women of Nigeria, Hajia Hadiza Ishaku, “The recent campaign in the social media calling for the scrapping of the Special Anti-robbery Squad, SARS, a unit of the Nigeria Police Force, is not in the best interest of Nigerians, especially for armed robbery and kidnap victims and their families. We call on all Nigerians to support the reform of SARS as announced by the Inspector General of Police to make it better under the Federal SARS arrangement and a Commissioner of Police already appointed by the IGP to head SARS to be allowed to work to make F-SARS more effective and efficient.”
Similarly the Ogun marchers, toed the Abuja group. A coalition of Civil Society groups, comprising the National Association of Nigerian Students and Community for defence of Human Rights as well as Police Community Relations Committee, Vigilante Service of Ogun State among others, kicked against the call for scrapping of SARS .
The National Secretary, CDHR, Comrade Yinka Folarin credited the FSARS in Ogun state for the peace and serenity he said indigenes enjoyed.
He said : “ the squad is a good example of what a police formation should be.”What we are saying is that there should be a holistic reorganisation and restructuring which is not by ranking.The SARS in Ogun state have subjected themselves to sleepless night to make sure that our eyes are open.” Anambra youths too In Anambra State, a peaceful protest was staged against the call for the scarp of SARS.
In Anambra, youths, under the aegis of Concerned Anambra Citizens and Non indigenes, drawn from various local government areas in the state, converged at the gate of the SARS office, Awkuzu , in Oyi local government area of the state where the convener, Mr. Emeka Okafor, who is also the Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on political matters, said the state was enjoining peace because of the activities of SARS and wondered why there were calls for their scrapping. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Owolabi, who received them, commended the group for a peaceful conduct, promising that the message would be delivered appropriately.
In Lagos it was a mix bag. While a civil society group under aegis of Sariki Mai Kanuri of Lagos State, also staged a rally at the National Stadium against the campaign to end SARS, another group gathered at Ojota,near the Gani Fawehinmi part, Ojota to call for the scarp of the squad.
