#EndSars protesters have taken to the streets in various parts of Nigeria to voice out their desire for the total scrapping of the controversial Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), a wing of the Special Tactical Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, had on October 4, 2020, placed a ban on some of the activities of some Tactical Squads of the Force, especially the controversial FSARS. The ban also affect the “stop and search” menace of the men of the Squads. But protesters insists this is not enough as they believe the abolishment of the squad if the only solution to the numerous complaints and injustices thy had faced in the hands of the operatives of the squad.
The FSARS operatives have been widely accused of abandoning their legal set-up objectives and hiding under the cloak of the authority vested on them to perpetrate all forms of injustices on the Nigerian populace. Many were accused of molestations, assaults, torture and killings.
The squad was earlier banned in 2017 by the IGP Idris following public outcry; this directive was totally disobeyed as the officers still continued unhindered.
Celebrities, some politicians and social media influencers are among many Nigerians fueling the agitations for the scrapping of the FSARS.
In his reaction to questions from journalists, IGP Adamu stated that his decision not to completely place a ban on the Special Tactical Squad as demanded by the agitators was to avoid creating a gap that criminal elements in the society would thrive on. He says the Squad’s activities can only be limited but they would still be needed to help tackle the crime rate in the society.
Meanwhile, EndSars protest took a violent turn in Imo State when a police officer named Obioma O. Obi was reported to have charged at some protesting youths with a loaded gun. This angered many of the youths who challenged the officers at the scene immediately.
Also, an officer is reported to have been killed in Ughelli area of Delta state today following #EndSars protest that rocked the city. Star Media Renaissance is gathering details regarding the incidence at the moment.