For days, Twitter has been agog with an online protest against the “unethical and unprofessional conduct” of men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police Force.
The hashtag ‘#ENDSARS’, championed by popular Twitter user Sega Awosanya, has been trending on the social media for days, many narrating their ugly and sometimes near-death experiences at the hands of SARS officials.
They seemed to be endorsing the claims, in October, of Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, that SARS operatives were responsible for many cases of the armed robbery, kidnapping and murder in the state.
Though the allegation was denied by Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police, cases abound where ordinary citizens had been manhandled by men of the SARS.
“People are not supposed to be afraid of the people that are supposed to be looking after us. A couple weeks ago, at almost midnight, my friends and I had a gun pointed at us for laughing. For laughing. #EndSARS,” wrote Simisola Ogunleye, a music superstar popularly known as Simi.
The #ENDSARS campaign started after a Twitter user narrated how a young man in his neighbourhood was gunned down on Thursday by SARS operatives.
A SARS officer just shot a boy in the Head right in front of me WTFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!! I’m so SHOOK!!!!!
— Charley (@yabakid) December 2, 2017
This happened in yaba on Thursday right in my hood. They stole the phone of a “yahoo boy” and shot another boy in the arm. The youth in the area mobilised and gave chase. https://t.co/Pk6iMftqyg
— Charley (@yabakid) December 2, 2017
If your son/boyfriend wore a red cardigan with skinny jeans today and drives a Toyota venza they don kill am ooo
— Charley (@yabakid) December 2, 2017
But Abayomi Sogunle, an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Complaints Rapid Response Unit at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, waved the complaints aside, describing the complainant as a dreamer.
“To all those having frightening dreams- “shot/beaten by police”. Pray to God not to allow it happen + avoid areas where police are responding to incidents in real life. If such dreams persist, GO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST. We only deal with real life police complaints @PoliceNG_PCRRU,” Shogunle wrote.
To all those having frightening dreams- “shot/beaten by police”. Pray to God not to allow it happen + avoid areas where police are responding to incidents in real life.
If such dreams persist, GO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST.We only deal with real life police complaints @PoliceNG_PCRRU.
— Abayomi Shogunle (@YomiShogunle) November 30, 2017
But what followed was barrage of criticisms and similar narratives of SARS highhandedness on civilians.
Yomi Shogule tweets with No
Courtesy
Empathy
Pity &
No respect for tax payers who he is meant to serve.Yomi Shogunle through his tweets has proven to be a shinning example of what the Nigerian Police should never be.
We want it now & we want it fast. #SackYomiShogunle #ENDSARS— Tweeter Active (@_Tweeteractive) December 4, 2017
Folarin Falana, the superstar son of Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, wrote “The entire police force needs some serious revamp. SARS are particular notorious for brutal attacks on innocent youth. The police is not our friend #EndSARS.”
Another musician popularly known as African China posted a video of a SARS operative pointing a gun at him and threatening to shoot him.
SARS official threatening to shoot African China while returning from a video shoot #EndSars pic.twitter.com/QgX5aSohab
— EDOBOI erunz (@Eromosele6) December 4, 2017
See a compilation of the anti-SARS tweets below:
Can never forget November 2005, driving in Abuja with @sommbonu and @IAMOfem. Stopped by a plain clothes officer with a gun, chased and actually being shot at for being “suspected armed robbers”. Ofem still has the bullet scars on his shoulder.#EndSARS
— Ebuka Obi-Uchendu (@Ebuka) December 4, 2017
I was on a job 5 mths ago, I wnt to ketu to get more chemical as my chemical finished on site. police raided me, I slept in their cell that nght, took me to a kangaroo court in oshodi D next day, court said i was guilty of causin havoc, & dey landed me in kirikiri prison #EndSARS
— adams taofeek (@souladamstweets) December 4, 2017
This handsome young man was Gunned down by SARS operatives for refusing to unlock his phone.These people are worse than the gestapo. pic.twitter.com/BvjyEdm32c
— Charley (@yabakid) June 11, 2017
So my ex girlfriend sent my number to ikorodu sars and those ones have been calling and threatening to castrate me with bullets apparently for igniting the #EndSARS Campaign. I think I need a trip out of Lagos for a while.
— Charley (@yabakid) December 4, 2017
SARS shot and killed 6 Igbo traders and a lady friend of theirs in Apo, Abuja. In this country.#EndSARS
— Ikenna Ronald Nzimora (@ronaldnzimora) December 4, 2017
This is video of another Nigerian brutalized for having Tattoo on his body. #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/PX6Gdflxuw
— EDOBOI erunz (@Eromosele6) December 4, 2017
I was even detained by them in Ogbomoso on my way to Ibadan and was asked to pay a bribe which I refused. I insisted on going to their station. #ENDSARS
— Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (@iaboyeji) December 4, 2017
I remember SARS chasing a yahoo guy around akute and they were also shooting and a stray bullet hit an Hausa shoemaker..his fellow abokis burnt their van..#EndSARS
— fashion stylist (@deronks_) December 4, 2017
A SARS officer once wanted to rape me under gun point. How i escaped that day is still a mystery to me.
I support #EndSARS— Ugegbe Eze (@MischievousNG) December 4, 2017
Guess these are the robbers/violent criminals @PoliceNG is referring to!!
No proper form of identification, use of unmarked vehicle, inhumane treatment etc@LegalNaija @segalink @Omojuwa @Omojuwa @obyezeks #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/h7YXRh1iwg
— Kokori (@Jordankokori) December 4, 2017
Few months ago, SARS arrested a male friend because he wore dreadlocks and they claimed that anyone on dread is an armed robber, I spent 100k for his bail. @PoliceNG @AmnestyNigeria @Gidi_Traffic @lindaikejimedia @atiku @ProfOsinbajo @Omojuwa #EndSARS #EndSARSBrutality
— Abeke Bashorun (@bashorunlagos) December 4, 2017
On my way from Owerri, I got a slap????????.
My offence : Using headphone while sleeping, I wasn’t the driver oo #ENDSARS— Ghandoki (@Ghandoki1) December 4, 2017
LOOL.. one time in MUSHIN, they pick guys up if you don’t have ID Card.
Then everyone wise up & got an ID; next thing these bastards @ night will stop u beside a huge drainage; ask for your ID, collect it, throw it in the drainage & then ask for your ID again ????????♂️ #EndSARS https://t.co/jfyw5bG2vk
— Olayinka Ahmed (@GalacticoHD) December 4, 2017
Sars attacked my bf and I for following a lonely road at 8pm with his car and beat him saying he is a thief #ENDSARS
— Justina John (@__Bosslady_J) December 4, 2017
LMAO!!! Kudos to the guy dt grabbed dis footage ????????????”@slimzy000: Another episode on #EndSARS
Officers exploi pic.twitter.com/ryBUiDBHPs“— ((((Kolly Yo))))) (@KBanky1) December 4, 2017
Just in the heat of the #EndSARS campaign
This is them on a Monday morning,drinking red label and smoking weed & extorting money from that young lad.
How won’t they shoot people anyhow when they’re high & dressed in mofty
They look like criminals#EndBadSARS pic.twitter.com/L6b9gkdKAN— thaladykilla (@professorskeelz) December 4, 2017
In the spirit of understanding, let me continue to clarify for our @PoliceNG & the general public. We are not asking for the Police to be disbanded, we are asking for a shut down of a demonstrably criminal network within the Police structure and a general Police reform. #EndSARs
— SEGA L’éveilleur® (@segalink) December 4, 2017