#EndSARS Protest Hits Lagos as Youths Demand End to Police Brutality
Youths in Lagos on Wednesday staged a protest against alleged brutality, extortion and extrajudicial killings by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
The demonstrators said the protest would continue for three days across different parts of Lagos State as part of growing nationwide calls for the disbandment of the police unit.
The protesters marched through Computer Village and the Ikeja Under Bridge area towards the police headquarters in Lagos, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Protect, Not Exploit,” “Nigeria Police, Stop Killing Us,” and “Say No to Brutal Injustice.”
They also submitted a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, demanding the total disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
The petition, dated October 7 and copied to Lagos State Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu, accused SARS operatives of persistent abuses despite previous reform measures announced by police authorities.
The protesters argued that allegations of extortion, torture, unlawful detention and excessive use of force had continued without sufficient accountability.
They called for independent investigations into reported cases of extrajudicial killings, torture and serious injuries allegedly involving SARS officers.
The group also demanded that officers found responsible for criminal misconduct be prosecuted, including senior officers who allegedly knew about abuses by personnel under their command but failed to act.
The protesters further called on police authorities to publish the names of officers found culpable of misconduct and establish a digital platform through which members of the public could track complaints and investigations.
They also demanded compensation for victims able to provide verifiable evidence of abuse by SARS operatives.
Another demand was for SARS detention facilities across the country to be opened to independent investigators to examine the treatment and legal status of detainees.
