Gov AbdulRazaq speaks on #ENDSARS protests
The Kwara state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has waded into the ongoing protests for the scrapping of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
He praised the protesters for their peaceful conduct, “despite the weight of the allegations raised in their petition” to him, adding that the conduct aligns with the spirit of harmony that Kwara is known for.
“I am in receipt of the petition by Coalition of Concerned Kwarans dated October 8, 2020. This petition, signed by 10 of the coalition’s members, was a follow up to a peaceful protest by them on the same day in Ilorin, the state capital,” AbdulRazaq posted on his verified Facebook page on Sunday.
“I am assuring members of the coalition that their petition, along with their demands, would be communicated to the Federal Government and proper follow up made to address all the issues raised.
“I urge our youths to continue to be law abiding in all that they do with the assurance that our administration would always uphold justice, and fairness.”
#ENDSARS PROTESTS HIT ILORIN
On Thursday, dozens of youth joined their counterpart across the country to protest against the alleged incessant brutality and extra-judicial killings by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The protesters marched to the State Police Headquarters in Ilorin through the Challenge, with placards bearing various inscriptions aimed at drawing the attention of the public to the plight of victims of SARS brutality.
The Convener of the protest, Comrade Olanrewaju Buhari, said, “We seek for the reformation of the Police Force and likewise disbandment of SARS. We need to put a stop to the brutality and harrasment by uniformed men.”
KWARA POLICE REACTIONS
Paul Omata, the State Deputy Commissioner of Police, who addressed the protesters, hailed them for their peaceful conduct and promised to deliver their messages to higher authority in Nigeria Police Force for necessary action.
The State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun had in a statement on Tuesday, October 6 denied the presence of SARS operatives in the state.
The claim, contained in a press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer Kwara State Command, Sp Okasanmi Ajayi, added that the unit is operating under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, noting that the operatives lacks the statutory power to investigate cases and could only be seen on the street during emergency periods – robbery and kidnapping.
He however, referred Kwara residents to the previously released statement where searching and checking of phones and harassment of innocent citizens by police officers in the Command were banned and members of the public were charged to report any SARS operatives seen on patrol searching of citizens phones indiscriminately to the Commissioner of Police through the following numbers: 08125275046/08032365122.
