Genevieve Nnaji, a Nollywood star, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians amid the nationwide #EndSARS protests aimed to put an end to police brutality on citizens.
In an open letter shared on her social media pages on Friday, the multiple-award winning movie star also recounted how her 13-year-old niece was harassed by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for carrying a laptop.
“My niece was harassed by SARS for carrying a laptop. Her own laptop. She was slapped across the face for simply asking why her laptop was being seized. At only 13, she had to deal with police brutality. Complaints were made and nothing was done,” she wrote.
“No one is spared and we are all affected. Mr President, this is the current state of your country. What our country is today is a reflection of your leadership, your legacy. I’m getting weary and tired of being optimistic about change but even then can’t complain.”
In the letter, which she captioned “enough is enough”, the 41-year-old actress wondered why the president remained silent despite the ongoing protest against police brutality.
She also called on Buhari to address the nation as his “house is not in order and way far from stable.”
“Mr President, I urge you to speak to us because we are not mind readers. Your house is not in order and way far from stable. The people aren’t being empowered, neither are they being protected. We are not all criminals and should not be treated as such,” she added.
Nnaji’s open letter to Buhari comes hours after Desmond Elliot, an actor and politician, backed calls for the scrapping of the police department.
The renewed protests against SARS started on Saturday after a video showing a man allegedly gunned down in Delta by operatives of the police unit went viral.
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