‘It has gone beyond reforms’– Desmond Elliot backs calls for #EndSARS

Desmond Elliot, an actor and politician, has backed calls for the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Nigeria.

The lawmaker, who is representing Surulere constituency in the Lagos state house of assembly, spoke on Friday while addressing his colleagues inside the complex in Ikeja.

“It has gone beyond having hotlines or doing reforms. As the Deputy Speaker rightly said, we really need to look into it,” he said.

“The IG of police seriously must consider. Nigeria Police are working for the people. If the (SARS) unit is working for the people and the people are calling for it to be disbanded, then let us do what they are saying.”

The legislator, who recently came under criticism for backing godfatherism in the country’s political space, also condemned the misconduct of some SARS officers who arrest people because of their appearance.

He said even though there are still some bad people in the society, it is wrong for citizens to be arrested because of their looks.

“The truth is, you can’t just arrest people on the road because of the hair they wear. That is not to say that we do not have bad people but because of the lack of training on how to deal civilly with people, we now come to have what SARS is today,” he said.

“So, I am in alignment with the prayers of the deputy speaker and I feel that we should do that expeditiously.”

HAPPENING NOW: Lagos lawmakers begin negotiations with #EndSARS protesters. (Desmond Elliot Speaking)#EndSARs #EndSarsProtests #DayThreeOfProtests pic.twitter.com/VI5vNETQqz

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TheCable Lifestyle had reported how some #EndSARS protesters led by Mr Macaroni, a comedian, stormed the premises of the state assembly on Thursday to demand that the legislative chamber facilitate laws that would end the incessant brutality of youths by the police unit.

As a result of this, Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the state house of assembly, had called for an emergency meeting of the parliament to address the widespread outcry.