#ENDSARS protesters on Tuesday morning locked down Osogbo, capital of Osun.
The protesters converged on Nelson Mandela Freedom Park around 10:30am and marched to the popular junction, blocking the highways with placards, banners and burn tires.
They barricaded Alekuwodo, Ogo-Oluwa, Odi-Olowo, and Orisunbare roads with tires, woods and iron rods, forcing motorists to make U-turn from the junction.
Their actions caused heavy gridlock on the roads.
The protesters took over the junction, dancing to music from a sound system placed on a vehicle.
Protesters against police brutality, extra-judicial killing, a
nd extortion have blocked Iwo road in Ibadan on Tuesday morning, causing gridlock.
Report had it that the protesters arrived at the road a few minutes to 09 am.
According to a commuter, many travellers are stranded and held in traffic.
One of the protesters, identified simply as Akande, said, “It is our right to protest. We apologise to those affected by the gridlock, but we expect that they should be part of us. They are also exploited by policemen while travelling.”
Nigerians on Tuesday continued their protests to pressure the Federal Government to follow through on disbanding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
The Inspector General of Police, Adamu Muhammed, had on Sunday announced the dissolution of the FSARS in after widespread protest.
The protesters blocked highways in Lagos on Monday, demanding that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), addresses them.
Buhari on Monday insisted that “disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reforms”.
“The purpose of law enforcement and the purpose of policing is for the safety of lives and livelihood of Nigerians,” he said.
But protesters vowed to keep up the pressure, saying previous pledges to disband the unit and punish officers responsible for abuses were not honoured.
A Nigerian man who works as a police officer in Canada made an appearance at the SARS Must End protest organized by Nigerians in Canada.
While there, the officer encouraged Nigerians to keep protesting and he spoke about what needs to be done to permanently put an end to police brutality.
He said Nigerian needs to “get competent leadership” and “change the reorganization of the police force.”
He added: “Give more autonomous power to police in each state, instead of somebody sitting in Abuja and directing someone in Benin. So, that’s what we should be fighting for.
“End SARS is the beginning. The larger picture is, the IG has to go, we have to change leadership, we need to pay police more, we need to see how we recruit them, that’s what we should be fighting about.
Youths on Tuesday continued their protest against police brutality and extortion in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
This is despite the ban on protests throughout the state by Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Monday.
But the protesters lamented that youths cannot continue to be killed without them protesting.
Our correspondent learnt that they converged opposite Pleasure Park Port Harcourt around 08.45am to resume the protest.
While some of the protesters were seen with placards, others chanted “EndSARS”, “We are tired of dying”, and “Protest is our right” among others.
“We are protesting against people that are killing us and you are asking to stay at home, how come? We are harassed and treated like criminals every day,” one of the protesters said.
A policeman at the scene of the protest appealed to the youths to be peaceful.
Earlier, Wike in a statement by Rivers Commissioner for Information, Paulinus Nsirim, said, ” “All proposed protests under #EndSars Campaign are hereby prohibited.
“Government took this decision because the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had already scrapped the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
“Therefore, there is no need for any form of protest against a Unit of the Police Force that no longer exists.”
A Muslim man put up an iconic photo of Aisha Yesufu protesting with other end SARS protesters and he marred it with a red X while condemning her for her actions.
He stated that her action is un-Islamic and dissociated her actions from Islam.
He wrote on the photo: “Don’t be deceived by the hijab-wearing revolutionary. Islam is free from her actions.”
When another Muslim man reached out to him, he reportedly said “Islam is against protests” except when it’s Jihad to sight in the cause of Allah.
He was called out by other Muslim men.
Below is a post from another Muslim man who called him out.
Popular Nigerian artiste, Burna Boy, has explained the rationale behind his absence during the End SARS protests across the country.
Burna Boy said he was dealing with a personal family issue at the beginning of the protests, adding that his mother had serious surgery last week.
We recalled that Nigerians across the country have been protesting the illegality and unconstitutional activities of SARS operatives.
Nigerian musician, Davido, and other entertainers were seen at the protest ground on Sunday in Abuja, calling for the end of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
However, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu on Sunday, announced the disbandment of SARS, following days of online and offline protests.
Reacting to the development, Burna Boy, in a tweet via his Twitter handle on Monday said he was busy in making sure that his mother recovers.
He tweeted: “I was dealing with a Personal Family issue at the Beginning of these Protests. My mum had Serious Surgery last week!
“We were all invested in making sure she recovers! I am not about that “put it all out on social media” life. We decided the focus must solely be on this protest.”
Big Brother Pepper Dem ex-housemate, Khafi Kareem, has made an offer to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Khafi, a MET police officer, with over 10 years experience, offered to advise President Buhari on how to go about the reform of the Nigeria Police.
The reality TV star replied the President, who earlier took to Twitter, to reinstate his commitment to reform the police.
The ex-BBN star said she was willing to offer her over 10 years experience of policing abroad and share ideas on how to better the Nigeria Police.
“Dear Mr President, if this is so, I would like to offer my 10 years+ experience of policing abroad and share ideas I have with @policeng…”
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the Nigeria police was disbanded by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu on Sunday.
This follows days of nationwide protest against the police operation.
Nigerians, mostly the youths, had taken to the streets of major cities to protest SARS brutality, while the hashtag “ENDSARS” has trended for days on social media.
Kanye West has lent his voice to the worldwide outcry and protest against police brutality in Nigeria.
The American rapper in his tweet, stated that he stands with Nigerians on the fight against police brutality. He further averred that the government must listen to the cries of the people.
Kanye West tweeted;
I stand with my Nigerian brothers and sisters to end police brutality, the government must answer to the peoples cries #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria
The Rivers state government has banned all forms of #EndSARS protest in the state.
In a statement released this night, the state Commissioner for Information, Paulinus Nsirim, said since the Inspector General of Police has dissolved all SARS formations across the country, the state government sees no reason why any #EmdSARS protest should hold in the state.
Nsirim noted that violators will be arrested and brought to book.
Read the statement below
The Rivers State Government hereby wish to inform the general public that all forms of protests have been banned throughout the State.
Therefore, all proposed protests under #EndSARS Campaign are hereby prohibited.
Government took this decision because the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had already scrapped the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Therefore, there is no need for any form of protest against a Unit of the Police Force that no longer exists.
Parents and Guardians are therefore advised to ensure that their children or wards do not violate this order.
Law enforcement agencies are also directed to ensure that the ban is enforced and that violators are brought to book.
Paulinus Nsirim Commissioner for Information and Communications October 12, 2020
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has commented on the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Osinbajo who spoke to state house correspondents on Monday October 12, said they will make sure the replacement for SARS is acceptable by all stakeholders in the country.
He said;
“I think the most important thing is that SARS has been disbanded and that the IGP has also committed to ensuring that not only is it disbanded, but that whatever takes its place has the full participation of the civil society groups and all other stakeholders.
“A few minutes ago, the president also spoke about it, and spoke in particular that the disbandment of SARS is only the first stage in a full scale reform of the police force.
“I think everyone is now committed to seeing a police force and also a law enforcement that will meet the expectations of Nigerians. The purpose of law enforcement and the purpose of policing is for the safety of lives and livelihood of Nigerians. So, we are all committed. I don’t think it’s the exclusive preserve of anyone, we are all very committed.
“The president has also spoken about the prosecution of all law enforcement agents who must have committed wrongful acts. I think all these are commitment, but we must also understand that it’s a process; it is not an event. Reform is a process and we must all commit to it and must stay focused on those issues.
“I think the clear message is that there is a government commitment to ensuring that the process of reforms, those who have committed wrongful acts, are duly investigated and prosecuted. And that whatever replaces SARS is something that is acceptable, first of all compliance with all of the tenets of the rule of law, and human right rights.
“I think these are deep issues that we are all concerned about, I don’t think one person is more concerned than others. I have also been involved in many cases of many young people trying to resolve these kinds of conflicts that have been reported. I think it is a good moment for the police force and for all of us to try and reform the police. We are all committed to it.”
