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Tag: #ENDSARS

#EndSARS: Crocodile Smile VI is not targeted at #EndSARS protesters – Nigerian Army assures
The Nigerian Army on Sunday assured that its Operation Crocodile Smile drill was not targeting anti-SARS protesters.
Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Musa Sagir, said contrary to insinuations, the operation was not aimed at stifling the ongoing nationwide protest.
Sagir disclosed this in a statement he issued, on Sunday.
He noted that the Army has been professional since the protest started “nearly two weeks ago”.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to some social media stuff wrongfully condemning the Army and its Leadership over the announcement of Exercise CROCODILE SMILE VI particularly the Cyber Warfare Component of the Exercise. This year’s Exercise CROCODILE SMILE is scheduled to commence from the 20th of October to the 31st of December 2020 has no relationship with any lawful protest under any guise whatsoever,” the statement read.
“For the records, Exercise CROCODILE SMILE is a yearly exercise in the NA Calendar/Forecast of Events which traditionally holds from October to December of each year.
“Thus, to now insinuate that it is an exercise meant to stifle the ongoing ENDSARS protest is to say the least highly misinformed. Exercise CROCODILE SMILE VI has nothing to do with the ongoing protest and the NA has never been involved in the ongoing protest in any form whatsoever. So far, the army has acted professionally since the civil protest started over two weeks ago
“The army hereby enjoins all law abiding Nigerians to go about their lawful activities unhindered as the Exercise has nothing to do with ENDSARS protest, but a yearly event set out to train NA officers and soldiers in its efforts to ensuring safety and security of Nigeria and her citizens.”
October 19, 2020
#EndSARS: IGP lists qualifications of SWAT operatives as training begins Monday
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Sunday, revealed the qualifications of officers to be trained in the new police tactical team to replace the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
He said the training of selected officers for the Special Weapons and Tactics Team would commence on Monday, October 19, 2020.
He noted that no ex-SARS operatives were shortlisted in the SWAT team.
He also explained that “the officers selected for the training are young, smart and energetic officers who have acquired not less than seven (7) years working experience with clean service records – no pending disciplinary matters, no record of violation of rights of citizens or misuse of firearms – and are physically fit to withstand the rigour of SWAT Training and Operations.
“The selected officers shall be subjected to physical fitness test, medical and toxicology screening etc and those found to be unsuitable shall be discharged.”
October 18, 2020
#EndSars protesters push for conversion of SARS headquarters to National Museum
Amidst continued protests over SARS and Police reforms in Nigeria, some youths in Anambra State have demanded that the building which housed the headquarters of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS in Anambra State located at Awkauzu should be turned into a national museum.
A public commentator, Chima Christian who made the call in Awka yesterday said Awkuzu SARS is arguably the headquarters of police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Nigeria.
He said the building that housed Awkuzu SARS should not remain a police station again but should be turned around as a memorial in honour of the hundreds, if not thousands of innocent souls that were “wasted.”
While appreciating the efforts of the Government of Anambra State so far in the matter, he said government should immediately initiate protocols to provide an alternate facility for the police formation/unit currently occupying the Awkuzu chamber
“Our next level demands in Anambra include that Awkuzu SARS building be handed over so we can turn it into a museum and a memorabilia.We will hang the pictures of our slain brothers and sisters there. We will light candles for them. They shall no longer be forgotten. Their memories shall no longer be treated as if they never existed.
“Some were unceremoniously buried in unmarked graves. We will give them a beffiting burial at that site and treat their memories with dignity. Tears will pour on that day and families will find closure.The muse um will be there to honour the slain, preserve history and remind future generations of a terror that once was”
“In one of the stories, a mother, having nothing more to give, was made to regularly cook for the officers in exchange that they free her son that was being detained.
”A son that, unknown to her, has already been killed by the killer officers.
”And they kept eating the woman’s food knowing fully well that they’ve killed her son. See, the cries emanating from that slaughterhouse is still echoing, both here and in the great beyond” he said.
October 18, 2020
#EndSARS: FG warns against anarchy in Nigeria
The Federal Government has warned that it will not allow the country to be thrown into anarchy following the violence that has trailed the #EndSARS protests.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on Saturday when he featured on a late night Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) news programme, “Weekend File”
The programme entitled, “EndSARS Protest: The Way Forward,” was monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The minister said Saturday’s assassination attempt on the Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, while addressing the protesters was a clear confirmation that the protests had been hijacked by hoodlums and people with ulterior agenda.
He noted that while the original conveners of the protests might have meant well, it was obvious that they were no longer in control of the initiative.
“Peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy and that is why the Federal Government in the last 11 days has treated the protesters in a very civilised manner.
“But, if you look at what happened to the governor of Osun state,it has gone completely beyond peaceful protest against excesses and abuse of power by the police.
“There is no where in the world where a government will folds its arms and allow the country to descend into anarchy.
“We are no longer dealing with #EndSARS but a volatile situation that can lead to anarchy if government does not take some very firm steps to protect the lives and livelihood of innocent Nigerians,” he said.
The minister added that the protests have gone beyond being peaceful because lives have been lost and innocent Nigerians, including workers and students, are passing through harrowing experiences.
Specifically, he said because the protesters are blocking the roads and highway, workers are finding it difficult to get to their offices and back home while many Nigerians are stranded on the roads.
“We have nothing against peaceful protest but there are civilised ways of doing so.
“This is by going to a venue where you are not going to disturb other Nigerians because where your own right stops, other persons’ right begins,” he said.
Mohammed said Nigerians should also see the protests as a smokescreen staged to undermine the administration and destabilise the country because all the demands by the protesters had been met by the government.
He reiterated that after the government had responded and met all the demands of the protesters, they ought to have nothing doing on the streets.
He recalled that the protesters on inception came with five demands including, that all arrested protesters should be released immediately and justice must be given to deceased victims of SARS including adequate compensation to be paid to their families.
The minister said the protesters equally demanded that there should be an independent committee to oversee the investigations and prosecution of any members of SARS found guilty of extra judicial killings.
He said they demanded that all personnel of the disbanded SARS must undergop psyhologicl and medical evaluation as well as retraining before they should be redeployed to other services of the Police.
The protesters also demanded that the salary of the police should be increased in a manner that will be adequately compensate for protecting lives and property of citizens.
In meeting the demands of the protesters, the minister said on Oct. 11, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) dissolved SARS accross the 36 states Police Command and the FCT.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari, on Oct. 12 addressed the nation, stating that the disbanding of SARS was a first step in the comprehensive reform of the police.
Mohammed said that On Oct. 13, the IGP ordered all defunct SARS personnel to report at Force Headquarters in Abuja for debriefing as well as psychological and mental examinations.
On the same day, the Presidential Panel on the Reform of SARS accepted the five-point demand of the protesters.
He said the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by the Vice President with the 36 state governors and FCT Minister as members met on Oct. 15 and directed the immediate establishment of state-based Judicial Panels of Enquiry across the country.
The panels as directed by the Council are to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality and related extra-judicial killings with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other Police units.
The NEC also directed governors to immediately establish state-based special security and human rights committee to be chaired by the governor in each state.
The governors are also to supervise the newly formed Police Tactical Unit and other security agencies located in states.
October 18, 2020
#EndSARS: Governor Obiano secures the release of detainees in Akwuzu SARS office
Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano, today October 17, visited Awkuzu SARS station in the state and secured the release of three persons who were arrested for committing minor offenses but were detained longer than necessary.
This is in fulfillment of his promise to the #EndSARS protesters on Friday, October 17.

While speaking during his visit, Governor Obiano said the detainees that are being remanded by the order of the court will remain there until their cases are determined by the court.
October 18, 2020
#EndSARS: Edo Police launches investigation into attack on protesters
The Edo state Commissioner of Police, Johnson Kokumo has directed the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department(SCID) to commence a full scale investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the murder of one Simon John with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, the commissioner expressed shock over the murder of the victim by suspected hoodlums at the King square in Benin on Friday which left one dead and several others injured.
EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality #EndSWAT Protesters repelling hoodlums attack in Benin city as the campaign against police brutality continues across Nigeria @GovernorObaseki @PoliceNG @NigeriaGov @MBuhari @SavvyRinu @segalink @AishaYesufu @mrmacaronii @falzthebahdguy
Meanwhile, the Edo state Government has given the police 24 hours to fish out the perpetrators of the act insisting that the Edo state Government will not accept harm befall the protesters who are exercising their legitimate rights.
October 17, 2020
#EndSARS: “Anonymous” confirms hacking CBN, EFCC websites, targets more
The websites of the Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been hacked.
Anonymous, a band of unknown individuals, has claimed responsibility, with a threat to seize control of more government websites.
Earlier on Friday, they took over the Twitter handle of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The account is still under their control and has grown from 10,000 followers to 22,500.
The group said they support the weak against the powerful and stand for justice.
They listed their values as human rights, autonomy and self-governance, resistance against tyranny, a more humane society.
Anonymous noted that its actions were in support of the End SARS protests.
On Saturday, their handle tweeted about the protest hashtags in Nigeria and other places.
“The fight against impunity and cruelty is global. #WhatIsHappeningInPhilippines
#JusticeForBabyRiver #whatisHappeninginThailand #WhatsHappeningInIndonesia #OmnibusLaw #EndPoliceBrutality #EndSars”, it read.
Anonymous first announced the attacks on state platforms on Thursday, two days after posting a video showing demonstrators.
“#Nigeria: Anonymous hacks multiple government websites in solidarity with #EndSARS protestors and retribution for violence by police. #OpNigeria #EndSARSProtest”, they tweeted.
Confirming the CBN and EFCC hit, they put up messages and screenshots.
“#Nigeria: International hackers & Anonymous continue the cyber campaign against the government to call out corruption, demand police reform, and show solidarity with brave protestors. #OpNigeria #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality #ReformTheNigerianPolice.”
“#Anonymous #OpNigeria #EndSARS #EndSARSNow #ENDSARSOPPRESSION. Official website of @officialEFCC has been taken down in support of #EndSARSProtest. You should have expected us! #EndCorruptionInNigeria.”
Now Day 10, protests are continuing in several locations across Nigeria.
The youths insist on total reform of the Police as well as justice and compensation for families of victims of brutality.
October 17, 2020
Armed Hoodlums attack #EndSARS protesters in Osun, injure one
Hoodlums wielding cutlasses on Saturday morning attacked #EndSARS protesters around the Olaiya Junction in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
One of the protesters simply identified as Oloyede was reportedly macheted by the thugs.
The incident happened around 9am.
The hoodlums also dispersed the protesters but they were said to have gone to regroup around Technical College Area.
The #EndSARS protests have been taking place across major cities in the country with youths demanding an end to police brutality and killings.
Major highways across the country have been blocked thereby grounding economic activities.
Details later…
October 17, 2020
#EndSARS: Lagos protesters shut Third Mainland Bridge, hold candlelight procession
There was gridlock on Third Mainland Bridge on Friday after youths protesting against police brutality partially shut the Iyana-Oworo-Oworonshoki section of the bridge.
Reports had it that the #EndSARS protesters had arrived at the bridge a few minutes to 6pm.
Apart from the gridlock, many passengers were stranded
The protesters also blocked the Berger section of the Long Bridge linking Lagos Ibadan-Ibadan Expressway.
A commuter told our correspondent that the protesters’ action led road users to drive against traffic.
“We had to pass one way because of the protesters. There was a serious gridlock. I spent almost two hours on the same spot,” the commuter said.
Also, the protesters held a candlelight procession for victims of police brutality in the country.
The candlelight procession held at Lekki toll gate and Alausa.
It was learnt that the procession held in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.
October 17, 2020
#EndSARS: Protesters in Abuja also observe candlelight procession for victims of police brutality
#EndSARS protesters in Abuja converged at the Unity fountain on Friday October 16 for a candlelight procession in honor of all victims of police brutality.
The protesters on Friday started the session with Christians and Muslims praying for the souls of those that have been killed by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
After the prayers, the protesters sang the National Anthem in respect of the country.
This is the 10th day since the youths began taking to the streets and despite efforts by the government to quell the protests, it appears to have gained more momentum.
See more photos below
October 17, 2020