Governor Dapo Abiodun has appealed to Nigerian youths agitating for an end to the activities of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police to put an end to the protests.
In a statement on Tuesday, Gov Abiodun pleaded youths to bring an end to the protests which has led to stampedes and accidents.
Abiodun appealed to the #EndSARS demonstrators in Ogun to be peaceful, calm and civil in their conduct and not allow the lofty idea behind the protest be hijacked by hoodlums and self-serving people.
On the other hand, the Governor also urged security agencies to exercise great restraint and avoid the use of force while managing peaceful protests.
According to the statement signed by the Ogun Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, Abiodun said he “identified with the objectives of the protest against law enforcement agencies brutalising the citizens.”
He insisted that a peaceful protest is a legitimate way of showing grievances against perceived high-handedness or injustice with any system.
The Governor assured that the State will facilitate investigation into any act of brutality by law enforcement agencies, compensation of the victims, identification and holding the erring law enforcement officials accountable.
“The youth should allow the planned reform of the police, starting with the immediate disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other measures already announced by President Muhammadu Buhari,” he begged.
