The Federal Government has come out to say that Nigerians should focus on peaceful ways to vent their grievances.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola revealed this today at the Third Session of the Synod and Conferment on him of the Ecumenical and Episcopal Award of the Ijesa North Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, held at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Ijebu-Ijesa, Osun State.

According to him, it would take Nigeria about 50 years to recover from the havoc wreaked on century-old national developmental efforts after the hijack of the recent #EndSARS protest.

He added that citizens must be careful during future angry moments because if they are not, all the efforts of a century can be wiped out in a day.

His words, “We have regrettably seen after the protests that all the efforts of a century can be wiped out in a day, which will require not less than 50 years to recover from. That is why he (President Muhammadu Buhari) said, security and how we protest should be well thought out and moderated.”

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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.