Some protesters under the aegis of the Concerned Nigerian Youth on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, called for the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.
The protesters, bearing banners with inscriptions like ‘Our demands are simple – Disband SARS,’ ‘Carry out audit of SARS activities and compensate victims,’ ‘Oga SARS, I want to live to see another day,’ ‘I am a Nigerian, stop killing the youth,’ ‘#ENDSARSNOW, stop killing us,’ ‘This brutality is getting too much,’ ‘EndSARSNow, we are Nigerians,’ said there was no alternative to their demand.
Maintaining that the SARS had done more harm than good to the citizens with special reference to the youth, they rejected the continued existence of SARS with solidarity songs.
The Coordinator for Coalition for #Revolution Now in Oyo 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 Mr President, the Senate President and the Speaker to scrap SARS. We say no to it. The harassment is too much. Anywhere they see you they would harass you. Without asking questioning, they would say you are under arrest.
“They had killed so many youth. If we fold our arms without telling them that enough is enough, it means the future of this nation would collapse. Therefore, we say no to that. SARS should be scrapped now.
“We are not satisfied with the step taken by the Inspector General of Police. In some states while SARS was banned they were still operating. It means that there is no they are above the law. Is SARS not under the IGP?”
Nicholas Alabi, the Coordinator of the Concerned Nigerian Youth and Public Relations Officer, Students Union, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, said, “We are calling for total end to SARS.
They cause more harm than good in Nigeria. They have embarrassed, harassed, kidnapped, extorted and killed thousands of Nigerian youth. They are called Special Anti-Robbery Squad. What is their business with the youth?”
A female protester who identified herself as Omotara Akanni, said, “These people are harassing ladies; this is too unbearable. We say that the authorities should stop this.”
