The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has assured residents of a speedy and prompt action to curb the violence and killings perpetrated by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad otherwise known as SARS.
The governor’s response came after Nigerians took the to social media to call on the dissolution of the special unit in the Nigerian police force after reports of another young man who was brutally murdered in Delta State surfaced online.
Nigerians had since engaged in an online protest against SARS, sharing provocative experiences and calling on the authorities to scrap the unit.
Celebrities like Wizkid also called out the governor asking him for to do something that residents will be proud of.
“Mr Governor! I met with you December 2019! You expressed how proud you
are of the entertainment industry and all we do. Pls do something let’s be proud of you too abeg ! #Endsars!” The singer wrote on Twitter.
Sanyo-Olu who replied two hours later, said the reports about the exploitation of SARS was very worrisome.
“The safety of our residents is my number one duty as the CSO of Lagos. So, reading reports of seemingly unlawful exploitation by the people charged to protect is very worrying and needs to be addressed immediately. Be assured that appropriate actions will be taken, & speedily too,” the governor said.
SARS is a dreaded controversial unit of the Nigeria Police Force founded in 1992 by former police commissioner Simeon Danladi Midenda.
The unit has since morphed into a fear factor, notorious for extortion, torture, framing up suspects and even blackmail. While the police unit has proven effective against crime, it is believed that the unit is corrupt.
