The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has urged Nigerians protesting against police brutality to go back home.

He revealed this during plenary on Thursday, October 15, 2020, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, even if he agrees with their cause, the protesters must give the government the chance to implement the demands that have been made, else they won’t know if their cries were heard or not.

He added that SARS have been disbanded and once the government is allowed time to meet with the demands of the protesters, the goals of the youths would’ve been achieved.

His words, “SARS have been disbanded. I believe that once protesters’ demands are met, their goals have been achieved. Therefore I appeal to our compatriots to go back home and give government the chance to implement those demands.”

What do you think?

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.