Barely 24 hours after the youths in Edo State marched to the Oba’s Palace in the City of Benin to protest the unwarranted killing and harassment of Innocent Nigerian youths by members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad Unit(SARS), youths in Lagos State also took to the streets in the same vein and have remained there for over 48hours.
While the Lagos protesters are holding up cards inscribed with their grievances against the Government and SARS, they also have drawn up demands directed and addressed to the Inspector General of Police. These demands include:
- A disbandment of the SARS unit.
- Compensation for the families of those killed by SARS
- That the names of officers who have killed innocent citizens be published
- A public inquiry into the activities of SARS in the past one year.
- The Unjust harassment carried out by the police should be stopped.
- Policemen should carry tags with their names and job details.
- A digital medium for tracking police officers
- That all SARS detainees’ case files be looked into by private investigators.
The protests, now culminating into a Nationwide protest, started after Naira Marley, Popular Nigerian Hip-Hop Rapper was pressured by the Nigeria Police Force to cancel his planned Protest against the Police force.
Nigerian youths who have been disappointed twice by celebrities, first by 2Face in 2017 and now by Naira Marley, decided to take it upon themselves to seek justice and right governance from the executive arm of government.
The peaceful protest was planned by Twitter influencers, with celebrities, such as Tiwa Savage, Dotun(god energy) of cool FM, and skit makers such as Frank Donga and Mr. Macaroni joining in. Also, the BBNaija rave queen of 2019, Tacha, joined the protests in Lagos. With some well-meaning protesting Nigerians buying food and drinks for those protesting.
The Endsars protests are also ongoing in other states like Rivers, Oyo, and Ogun with youths of Anambra State planning to join today.
However, despite the outcry and obvious cause of the protests, the Nigeria Police Force is yet to address the claims of the protesting youths. The PRO of Police, Frank MBA on Channels TV this morning, 9th of October, even called the protesting youths clout chasers and dismissed their case and grievances. Since his statement, The PRO has come under fire from Twitter users.
NaijaInsider will continue to report the news around #Endsars as it unfolds.
