The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has come out to ask for a stop to the destruction of lives and property in the South-West amid the #EndSARS protests.

The socio-cultural group recently revealed this via a statement signed by Chief Wasiu Afolabi, its Deputy President.

According to OPC, even if the Lekki Tollgate shootings was very sad and devastating, the violence and destruction of lives and property that have trailed it must stop and rioters must withdraw from the streets.

The group then urged the FG to immediately look into enquiring at both federal and state levels to investigate, identify, and punish those behind Tuesday’s shooting of unarmed protesters at Lekki.

His words, “Such a heinous crime must not be swept under the carpet; or else we shall be nurturing a licence-to-kill mentality in our military men and security operatives as well as open up our civilian citizenry to the abuse and impunity of those supposed to protect us.”

“OPC as an organisation will not fold its arms and watch the region turned into the scapegoat of #EndSARS protests.

“However, the organisation noted that every agitation must end on the negotiation table and time has come for campaigners to step back and see whether or not the government would fulfil its promise to end SARS and bring about massive reforms in the police.”

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The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is a Nigerian Police Force unit under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police Anthony Ogbizi. Since 2012, SARS has come under controversy for being linked to acts of extortion, torture, framing and blackmail.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad was founded in 1992 by former police commissioner Simeon Danladi Midenda. The major reason SARS was formed was when Col. Rindam, a Nigerian Army Colonel was killed by police officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.

SARS is one of the 14 units in the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department which was established to detain, investigate and prosecute people involved in crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping and other forms of crimes.

During its formation the Special Anti-Robbery Squad was known to operate covertly. SARS operatives were not allowed to wear police uniform, publicly carry guns or have walkie-talkies. They were given unmarked vehicles with sometimes no license plates or private plate numbers during duty.