Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Gombe state Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo and other Nigerians have launched an #EndSARS campaign on Twitter, detailing atrocities committed by the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad and called for its scrapping.
The #EndSARS campaign as at 2pm was number one on Twitter. And it was immediately followed by over 400,000 tweets on the Police themselves.
This is a normal thing for SARS. Trigger happy animals. #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/nfcKeIpIVw
— Iyamu Quebex (@IAmQuebex) 3 December 2017
In posts after posts, Nigerians recounted horrible, harrowing encounters with SARS, the dreaded squad of the police, set up to fight banditry. Often, the men went off course to torment innocent Nigerians.
Atiku wrote: The arbitrary harassment of young Nigerians by Police (who should be protecting them) has no place in a democratic society. The #EndSARS protest shows Nigerian youth are upset and the matter needs urgent attention.
He also twitted, “Everyday, we encourage our young people to become entrepreneurs. Buying a laptop to earn a living shouldn’t attract harassment. I commend our young people for protesting these injustices peacefully online, and encourage the IG of @PoliceNG to take these complaints seriously. I also urge the National Assembly to look into these complaints, and address the human rights issues. Reforms are urgently needed.”
Joining his voice too, Governor Dankwambo twitted, “I wholeheartedly support Nigerians in the call for #EndSARS. Those charged with the protection of Nigerian lives and property have now become the danger to those they are supposed to protect. However, I believe that we need more reforms in the Nigeria Police.”
#EndSARS Sars released me after I paid over 76k I was excited because they threatened to kill me well I don’t know about the other guy pic.twitter.com/4O7afx1oth
— DreamChaser (@Koolkasper) December 3, 2017
Here are some other tweets from Nigerians detailing one horrible thing said about SARS by the campaigners:
And this are supposed to be Policemen looking like Highway Armed Robbers. They are paid with tax payers money and turn around to brutalize and kill same tax payers. Please #EndSARS and return police to civil duties! pic.twitter.com/mhvn8qKxG1
— Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) 3 December 2017
They stopped us and collected 100k from us because we have beards… After showing ID they said we are yahoo boys. Last week oooo. #EndSARS
— OLLYSIR (@iamollysir) 3 December 2017
SARS once went to raid a beer garden in Ikoyi. They took people away and locked them with armed robbers and murderers in Ikeja. I had to call a friend to get them out that Friday night to prevent them spending the weekend there.
S.A.R.S = Special Advanced Robbery Squad #EndSARS
— Babasola Kuti (@SKSolaKuti) 3 December 2017
It is wrong for President Buhari to lament that Nigerians are being sold ‘like goats’ in Libya, while his police force is accused of killing Nigerians ‘like goats’ at home. Lets show value for Nigerian lives at home before others will show value for Nigerian lives abroad #EndSARS
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) 3 December 2017
We are tired of Police harassment and continuous brutality for Owning Cellphones and Laptops #ENDSARS pic.twitter.com/Gy2k2q9Ckd
— Onoriste (@onoritse17) 3 December 2017
Not Every Young Lad with A Laptop is a “Yahoo Boy”
Some of us are Graphic Designers.
Some of us are Programmers.
Some of us are Bloggers.
Some of us are Promoters.
Some of us are Freelancers.
Some of us are Students.
Some of us are Analysts. #EndSARS— OneWeirdDude™️ (@khaynet) 3 December 2017
“The majority of the victims of torture in SARS custody are poor and unable to hire legal representatives. In some cases when detainees cannot afford to pay bribes, they are simply tortured more,” from our Sept. 2016 report on SARS of @PoliceNG #EndSARS
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) 3 December 2017
“Our research shows that, in addition to its stated remit of tackling violent crime, SARS investigates civil matters and in some cases tortures detainees involved in contractual, business and even non-criminal disputes,” from our Sept. 2016 report on SARS @PoliceNG #ENDSARS
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) 3 December 2017
“Our research shows that, in addition to its stated remit of tackling violent crime, SARS investigates civil matters and in some cases tortures detainees involved in contractual, business and even non-criminal disputes,” from our Sept. 2016 report on SARS @PoliceNG #ENDSARS
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) 3 December 2017
“Depressingly, there are scant judicial or any other mechanisms in place to prevent SARS officers from subjecting vulnerable targets to human rights violations for their own financial gain.” from our Sept. 2016 report on SARS @PoliceNG #EndSARS
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) 3 December 2017
My uncle got killed by SARS a couple of weeks back and my Grandma died as a result of the news and we still don’t know his offence.#EndSARS
— D.AW.G (@daddyawongirls) 3 December 2017
Everyone.. SARS are currently raiding in front of ST Anthony hotel laisu Road ikotun Egbe, the guy’s tires were shot just to stop him, he has his little son in his car, won ti gba eti eeh, guys are protesting against them here, and they r shooting.. #EndSARS
— #ENDSARS ?? (@Kush_Oracle) 3 December 2017
Just yesterday on my way back from ilorin with my team . Luck wasn’t on our side because ? We met SARS operatives who asked for receipts to a car we hired from Lagos to ilorin. I was weak. They threatened to shoot my manager for arguing with them ??♂️ #ENDSARS
— OMO YI ? (@iamTJAN) 3 December 2017
The arbitrary harassment of young Nigerians by Police (who should be protecting them) has no place in a democratic society.
The #EndSARS protest shows Nigerian youth are upset and the matter needs urgent attention.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) 3 December 2017
Everyday, we encourage our young people to become entrepreneurs. Buying a laptop to earn a living shouldn’t attract harassment.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) 3 December 2017
I commend our young people for protesting these injustices peacefully online, and encourage the IG of @PoliceNG to take these complaints seriously.
I also urge the National Assembly to look into these complaints, and address the human rights issues. Reforms are urgently needed.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) 3 December 2017
I wholeheartedly support Nigerians in the call for #EndSARS.
Those charged with the protection of Nigerian lives and property have now become the danger to those they are supposed to protect.
However, I believe that we need more reforms in the Nigeria Police.
— Governor Dankwambo (@HEDankwambo) 3 December 2017
Read: Lady narrates how she and her friend were brutalized by SARS in Ogbomoso. This is a very sad story. I hope the @NGRSenate @NGRPresident will look into this #EndSARS agitation and end this @PoliceNG menace once and for all. pic.twitter.com/xKCFxeD9rT
— Bhadmus Hakeem ?? (@Bhadoosky) 3 December 2017
The #EndSARS campaign is getting support from all corners.
— AYM (@AYMalumfashi) December 3, 2017
Now that Atiku has addressed this issue, watch Aso Rock enter the TL to talk about #EndSARS like pic.twitter.com/asPpAcZemp
— Ndi Kato (@YarKafanchan) 3 December 2017
There will be an #EndSARS rally in Abuja on the 11th of December if the Federal Government fails to act on the public outcry of Nigerians. You are free to send suggestions.
For details, contact me or @segalink
— Adeyanju Deji ?? (@adeyanjudeji) 3 December 2017
Avoid ikeja under bridge. They re operating there as we speak in a blue danfo. . #ENDSARS
— JUDE GBENGA SKONES™ (@perfectskones) 3 December 2017
What are you saying??? People are being beaten and killed and you’re saying dreams????!!!! #EndSARS then we’d face the remaining police force https://t.co/QV3jMBHpTl
— ZAHEER! (@iam_YCEE) 3 December 2017
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 #ActuallyTakeGunsAwayFromTriggerHappyPeopleWhoHideBehindTheUniform!
— Simi (@SympLySimi) 3 December 2017
One country facing:
Slavery in Libya,
Xenophobia in SA,
Unemployment at Home,
Fulani Herdsmen at Home,
Boko Haram at Home,
APC at Home,
SARS at Home.???#EndSlavery #EndXenophobia#EndUnemployment#EndFulaniHerdsmenKillings#EndBokoHaram#EndAPC#EndSARS
#Pray4Nigeria— Adetutu Balogun (@Tutsy22) 3 December 2017
“A police unit created to protect the people has instead become a danger to society, torturing its victims with complete impunity while fomenting a toxic climate of fear and corruption,” From our Sept. 2016 report on SARS #EndSARS
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) 3 December 2017
Basically, #SARS & most policemen instantly assume you are a fraudster if you re pushing a good car. The treatment is usually worse if you got all boys in the car & hell comes down if ya’all wearing blings or shades. #ENDSARS
— Top Boy (@DJSPINALL) 3 December 2017
Citizens’ outcry on #EndSARS is clear and unambiguous: Govt should end it – not probe, not reform – end this particular programme that has proven itself competent only in harassing young people and causing more harm than good.#EndSARS is the rallying call.
— Demola Olarewaju (@DemolaRewaju) 3 December 2017
