Falz, Runtown and Naira Marley are among celebrities that have called for protest over the alleged killings and brutality of citizens by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
On Saturday, videos had surfaced on Twitter showing a witness who claimed a young man, who was commuting in the Ugheli town of Delta state, was gunned down by SARS officials.
This had provoked public outcry against the police department, with the ‘EndSARS’ hashtag taking centre stage on social media platforms.
By farrrrr the MOST insensitive government ever in our history. Unbelievable. Just always so absent.
Advertisement— Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) October 4, 2020
Joining the fray of celebrities, Falz, a singer known for his socially conscious music, tackled President Muhammadu Buhari while expressing his disappointment that he was yet to address the violence being meted out to citizens.
“Makes me sick to my stomach, that till now, we are still waiting for a single word from our so-called president on this SARS menace. Ready to enter the streets,” the musician wrote.
“By far the MOST insensitive government ever in our history. Unbelievable. Just always so absent.
Ready to enter streets. Been ready since. We have to move in numbers. They cannot kill everybody.
— Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) October 4, 2020
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Why we dey fear to protest? They may kill us? Are they not killing us already?? I’m every way possible!!!
— Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) October 4, 2020
“Been ready since. We have to move in numbers. They cannot kill everybody. Why we dey fear to protest? They may kill us? Are they not killing us already?? I’m every way possible!!!”
On his part, Runtown said he is volunteering to lead a protest against police brutality and harassment at the Lekki toll gate on October 8.
“This has gone long enough and now we MUST take action! I’ll be leading a protest to #ENDSARS on Thursday, October 8th 2020. They MUST listen to us, they MUST make/effect REAL and VISIBLE changes! Empty promises won’t work this time!!!,” Runtown wrote.
This has gone long enough and now we MUST take action! I'll be leading a protest to #ENDSARS on Thursday, October 8th 2020.
AdvertisementThey MUST listen to us, they MUST make/effect REAL and VISIBLE changes! Empty promises won't work this time!!!
— Runtown (@iRuntown) October 4, 2020
Naira Marley also took to the microblogging platform to say that he can lead the protest against operatives of SARS but is convinced he might be sent to Kirikiri prison.
Toke Makinwa, a media personality, called on both the president and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, to not just reform but scrap the police unit.
“The youth of this country are tired. Like we don’t already have enough to worry about, you add police brutality. When we cry out it falls on deaf ears, why can’t the government hear us,” she said.
The youth of this country are tired, like we don’t have already have enough to worry about you add police brutality, when we cry out it falls on deaf ears, why can’t the government hear us, #EndSars #EndSarsBrutality
— Toke Makinwa (@tokstarr) October 4, 2020
“The same youth who add so much to our economy; who look beyond the government for a better life. The same youths that have decided to stay hopeful regardless of how our leaders abuse us.
“Please we are tired, it’s not a curse to be Nigerian. We are tired of ‘one day it go better’, we are tired of all your promises for a better Nigeria, our tired is tired.
We are tired of “one day it go better”, we are tired of all your promises for a better Nigeria, our tired is tired. You can’t keep quiet while our young ones suffer in the hands of those who are meant to protect them, @mbuhari @jidesanwoolu #EndSarsBrutality #EndSars
— Toke Makinwa (@tokstarr) October 4, 2020
“You can’t keep quiet while our young ones suffer in the hands of those who are meant to protect them, @mbuhari @jidesanwoolu. We don’t want a reformed #Sars.
“We are not asking you to appeal to #Sars, end it. We don’t want illegal checkpoint or forcefully bullying our brothers, they have families who live in fear daily, #EndSarsBrutality #EndSars
“People outside look at you and think it’s so cool to be Nigerian. Yet your heart aches each time ’cause you know the real meaning of being Nigerian. No change, just empty promises…”
We don’t want a reformed #Sars, we are not asking you to appeal to #Sars, end it. We don’t want illegal check point or forcefully bullying our brothers, they have families who live in fear daily, #EndSarsBrutality #EndSars
— Toke Makinwa (@tokstarr) October 4, 2020
Olamide, CEO of YBNL records, also lamented that the use of the ‘EndSARS’ hashtag has become tiring.
“Police brutality is skyrocketing by the day And the Nigerian government is neither deaf nor blind, they see all the trends and tag along with whichever one they like,” he wrote.
“You don’t have to like this one to do the right thing. Hashtags are becoming tiring. The people are sick of it. The greatest patriotism is to tell your country when it is behaving foolishly, viciously.
“This is not the time to point fingers, who the fuck is protesting, and who is not. It’s time to collectively stop fighting each other and demand good governance.
Police brutality is sky rocketing by the day And the nigeria gov. Is not deaf nor blind, they see all the trends and tag along with whichever one they like. You don't have to like this one to do right thing. The hashtags are becoming tiring. The people are sick of it.
— Olamidé (@Olamide) October 4, 2020
This is not the time to point fingers, who the fuck is protesting and who is not. It's time to collectively stop fighting each other and demand good governance. Nobody deserve to killed for nothing by the people that's meant to protect them. The Gov. Should lead by example.
— Olamidé (@Olamide) October 4, 2020
“Nobody deserves to killed for nothing by the people that are meant to protect them. Don’t ignore people when they need you and come back talking about the people being the problem of Nigeria.”
In the wake of the public outcry, Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), on Sunday banned SARS operatives from undertaking routine patrols as well as stop and search duties.
Meanwhile, here are what other celebrities had to say on Twitter:
— H.O.A (@Peruzzi) October 4, 2020
Press releases without any action, are way too common. We’ve been here before. #EndSARS
— Ebuka Obi-Uchendu (@Ebuka) October 4, 2020
END SARS!!!! @MBuhari @jidesanwoolu #WeAreTired
— Tiwa Savage ⚔️ (@TiwaSavage) October 4, 2020
You’re not catching armed robbers, you’re killing bullying and stealing from innocent young people. SARS IS THE REAL ARMED ROBBER!!
— OBA ORIN (@TeniEntertainer) October 4, 2020
How many young Nigerians will have to be robbed/ kidnapped/killed by SARS before our Government takes it seriously? The "Special Anti-Robbery Squad" is doing the robbing?! Such a disgrace. What will it take for our "leaders" to do something about it? #EndSARS #EndSarsNow
— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) October 4, 2020
#endsarsnow !!!! If we all come together as brothers and sisters and also as citizens of this country we can end this Nonsense!! pic.twitter.com/TP2JazmETg
— Davido (@davido) October 4, 2020
To me, they did not really ‘barn SARZ’ they’re just gonna put the same officers in another uniform under a different unit. All this doings na to calm us down. https://t.co/4zhdFNlvs4
— REMA (@heisrema) October 4, 2020
The people say they don't want again. Is it by force? I, personally, am tired of social media outrage that will last two days – and they ignore the people because they know we will move on. That we're used to suffering doesn't mean we deserve it. #EndSarz
— Simi (@SympLySimi) October 4, 2020
Every time they claim to fix it, they come back worse than the last time. No value for anyone's lives. They thrive on the fear of the people and they do it confidently, because no impunity. Imagine your biggest fear is of the people that are supposed to protect you. #EndSarz
— Simi (@SympLySimi) October 4, 2020
They are doing more of killing us than protecting us. You have lost control of your men. Take these touts in uniforms off our streets. #EndSarsNow pic.twitter.com/ogdR6v645Q
— 🧞ITS DONJAZZY AGAIN🧞 (@DONJAZZY) October 4, 2020
Nigerian govt pls #EndSARS or do a proper check-in with that department. The oppression is getting out of hand and we the citizens don't find this funny anymore. They always feel disappointed whenever they stop me and I bring out my media ID card.
— DJ Neptune #NoBody (@deejayneptune) October 4, 2020
Donald trump is not your business!
Old man! Police/Sarz still killing
Nigerian youth on a daily! Do something!
Nothing concern u for America!
Face your country !! https://t.co/thxmoYb7VE— Wizkid (@wizkidayo) October 4, 2020
#EndSars
Every young person isn’t a criminal. I’ve experienced SARS brutality many times and got out lucky, not every other person was as lucky. #EndSarsNow pic.twitter.com/QaDQ5NTrNY— Johnny Drille (@Johnnydrille) October 4, 2020
It’s about time #EndSARS @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo for how long 😡 pic.twitter.com/Ml6CYpwAjb
— Rudeboy (@rudeboypsquare) October 4, 2020
i t must be DEMANDED!!!!!!!! MUST!#EndSARS pic.twitter.com/0RZfrEooEp
— TACHA🔱🇳🇬🇬🇭 (@Symply_Tacha) October 4, 2020
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