President Muhmmadu Buhari, Friday night, met the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Adamu, at the State House, Abuja, instructing him to address the concerns of Nigerians, especially youths, protesting the activities of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS).
President Buhari, in a thread of tweets on his verified Twitter handle, @MBuhari, late Friday evening, appealed for calm and patience.
The President, who expressed commitment to ensuring that erring personnel were brought to Justice, said Nigerians have right to peacefully make their views known.
I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt. I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people. pic.twitter.com/yoLoZt7Et9
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) October 9, 2020
“I met again with the IGP tonight. Our determination to reform the police should never be in doubt. I am being briefed regularly on the reform efforts ongoing to end police brutality and unethical conduct, and ensure that the Police are fully accountable to the people.
“The IG already has my firm instructions to conclusively address the concerns of Nigerians regarding these excesses, & ensure erring personnel are brought to justice. I appeal for patience & calm, even as Nigerians freely exercise their right to peacefully make their views known.
“The vast majority of men and women of the Nigeria Police Force are patriotic and committed to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, and we will continue to support them to do their job,” the President said.
Protesters across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have been requesting that SARS be scrapped because of many brutal and extortionist activities by operatives of the squad.
More footage of protests and attempts to stop protesters are emerging online.
The government using it’s military to fight the youths conducting a peaceful protest pic.twitter.com/UwbSb5kEUx
— Anon? (@rv_bc) October 10, 2020
Here is a video of him harassing a student of the university of ilorin at oke odo.#EndSARS #EndSARSImmediately #EndSarsProtests pic.twitter.com/webAiZXUed
— EndSarsNowinIlorin (@EndSarsinNaija) October 10, 2020
American singer and songwriter Trey Songz tweeted he was speaking out against the protest after researching what #EndSARS stood for.
After doing a little research I would like to speak out against what’s going on in Nigeria right now. Their pleas to #EndSarsNow IS VERY REAL. I have so much love for my Nigerian fans and it’s so hurtful to hear whats happening.
— Trey Songz (@TreySongz) October 10, 2020