What was supposed to appease Nigerians following the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has ruffled feathers among some Nigerians.
Thousands of Nigerians are outraged over the unveiling of a new unit to replace the SARS accused of violating the rights of citizens including illegal detentions, assaults and shootings.
According to the head of the police Mohammed Adamu the new Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) would carry out the duties handled by the unit which was disbanded after days of protests.
Many angry Nigerians have taken to social especially twitter using the hashtag #EndSwat to oppose the new unit.
They contend that the changes are not good enough to reform the Nigerian police service.
We don’t believe you are listening when nobody has been dismissed, arrested and charged for the murder of innocent protesters and citizens. Accountability is the first step to change. #EndSars #EndSWAT
— Genevieve Nnaji MFR (@GenevieveNnaji1) October 14, 2020
This has been said before.. and it was ignored by your officers on ground!!! Do you not have control over them? Or is this another lie.. it must be one or the other.. #EndSWAT #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria https://t.co/Kds1yAGoAn
— Yung denzL (@MI_Abaga) October 14, 2020
Preach brother Preach!!! #EndSWAT https://t.co/qAtpac4v9a
— TACHA????? (@Symply_Tacha) October 14, 2020
The reason that armed thugs were sent to attack the #EndSWAT protestors in Abuja, #Nigeria is to draw a violent reaction and provide an excuse to deploy the same security forces people are protesting about to violently put down the protests. #EndSARS #SARSMustEnd
— Chxta (@Chxta) October 14, 2020
This is heartbreaking!! Why send thugs to Berger to beat protesters??
See what the wicked Nigerian govt did to this young man. ???Are Dangote & Tony Elumelu seeing this?
Please RT.#EndSARS #SARSMUSTENDNOW#SWAT #EndSWATpic.twitter.com/MFWitbuPuG
— Mr Macaroni (@mr_macaronii) October 14, 2020
It took less than 4 hours to (wrongfully) charge 4 protesters with attempted murder. They were arraigned in less than 12 hours. Why has no SARS officer been brought to justice for the killings? This is why we are still on the street. Justice must be SEEN to be done! #EndSWAT
— Analyst (@BbnaijaAnalyst) October 14, 2020
Amnesty International said at least 10 people have been killed in the protests.
Some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars, including Davido and Falz, have thrown their weight behind the demonstrators, who have been galvanizing support on Twitter under the #EndSARS hashtag.
They have defied a ban on demonstrations as they hit the streets of oil hub Port Harcourt.
There were also protests in the commercial hub, Lagos and the country’s capital, Abuja.
Nigeria disbands notorious police unit after protests from citizens
Source: Africafeeds.com
