Despite the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Sunday, protests against the unit for gross human rights abuse, including extrajudicial killings, intimidation, and harassment of citizens, have continued.
However, the police authorities also received support from some Nigerians, who kicked against the scrapping of the unit.
One of the protesters, Damilola Ayanniyi, said it was to demand the scrapping of SARS, adding that the policemen working under the unit had harassed him on three different occasions.
23 Ogun protesters arrested with guns, charms
In Abeokuta, Ogun State, 23 protesters were arrested by the police with guns and assorted charms.
They were arrested on Saturday during a protest that turned violent.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, stated this in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, after the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, had addressed them, the protesters headed for the palace of the Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, where the Owu Day was ongoing and violently disrupted the ceremony, which had former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Deputy Governor of the state, Noimot Salako, in attendance.
The PPRO added that the protesters damaged the back windshield of the deputy governor’s official car and later went to the SARS office at Magbon, Abeokuta, fired some gunshots at the men, and injured one Sergeant Akabudike Augustine.
Oluwo advises protesters
Meanwhile, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has challenged the #EndSARS protesters to channel their energy into kicking against ritual killing, cultism and other social vices in the land.
The Oluwo spoke on Sunday in response to calls on Instagram that he should lend royal in support of the protests.
The monarch said ritual killing was deadlier and more devastating to the youth than SARS could be.
Oba Akanbi, who lamented the increasing cases of ritual killings, said it was disappointing that despite the high level of crime in the land, Nigerians had not protested against ritual killings.
Campaign’ll ensure respect for human rights – Catholic Secretariat
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria described the agitation for the scrapping of SARS as “a conscience searchlight for all security officers.”
It said the protests would make the security operatives to regret their acts of victimization and impunity, and resolve to act with love and responsibility.
The National Director of Social Communications, CSN, Rev. Fr. Mike Nsikak Umoh, said these in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.
Northern, South-East youths back SARS
Meanwhile, some youths under the aegis of the Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria as well as some in Katsina State has kicked against the scrapping of SARS and other special police squads.
Instead, they called for the reform the units in line with accepted world policing standards.
In Katsina, some youths, on Sunday, staged a peaceful protest in support for the SARS.
The youth said those calling for the scrapping of SARS did not mean well for the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
Similarly, the Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, has advised the IG to reform the SARS instead of scraping it.
In a statement by the President-General and the Secretary-General, Goodluck Ibem and Kanice Igwe, the group noted that there were some good and upright operatives within the rank of SARS, who could not be wished away.
