A week after an online protest to end the police unit, Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Nigerians trooped out in mass to protest the unit’s brutality
A week after an online protest to end the police unit, Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Nigerians trooped out in mass to protest the unit’s brutality, intimidation, extortion and killings of innocent citizens, calling for its immediate scrapping. Speaking at the Unity Fountain, Abuja leg of the rally, the convener #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG, Segun Awosanya reeled out a list of demands
1. We demand for an outright scrapping of the entire SARS unit across the country. Its members have become engrossed in crime, murder, brutality, extortion and disrespect for the rule of law in a manner that makes any attempt at reform a waste of time.
2. We demand the constitution of a panel by the Police Services Commission to reform the Nigerian Police in its entirety. The agenda must include provisions for better training of police officers; provision of better equipment and firearms; better welfare including housing, insurance, prompt payment of salaries and pensions etc; establishment of a code of conduct and strict compliance thereto as well as strong disciplinary measures for any officer who violates the code of conduct.
3. We also demand a public hearing at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to enable Nigerians to table their grievances before our elected representatives as well as the submission of memoranda on reforms of the Nigerian Police including recommendations on the amendment of laws to ensure a more efficient police force.
4. We demand thorough investigations into complaints filed against SARS officers. We demand that such officers be identified and immediately brought to justice. In some cases, we will provide video and pictorial evidence against officers who have been seen to be involved in such acts of brutality and extortion.
