Hundreds of youths in Edo State on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest in Benin City, demanding a stop in the alleged police brutality against youths by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police in the state.
Following the outcry against police brutality, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads from carrying out stop and search duties among others.
The protesting youths, who marched through several streets in the capital city, including the palace of the Oba of Benin, carried placards with various inscriptions such as, ‘We come in peace’, ‘We say no to police harassment’ and ‘Enough is enough’
They however appealed to the monarch to intervene in the matter.
A palace chief, Ehondor D. A. Obahiagbon of Benin, who received the protesters at the Oba’s palace, promised to convey their request to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
Daily Trust reports that the protest resulted in gridlock around the city centre, leaving commuters and other road users stranded for hours.
