Nigerian celebrities Folarin Falana, popularly called Falz, and Runtown on Thursday joined the ongoing protest calling for the dissolution of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), thereby putting an end to police brutality and extra-judicial killings.
Led by Falz and Runtown, the protesters, composed mainly by youths, marched from Lekki Toll Gate to Zone Two Headquarters and Area A Command at Oniru, Lagos Island, demanding for an end to SARS and the accompanying impunity.
Other celebrities like Jaywon, Elozonam Ogbolu and Prince Enwerem of Big Brother Naija also joined the protest taking place simultaneously across the country.
“Everybody here is fighting for the same course,” Falz said, demanding an audience with the AIG of Zone Two Command.
“This is not the first time we have heard of a directive being issued that SARS officials are not allowed to do searches anymore, they are not allowed to harass. But they still continue killing us. What is our guarantee that this issue will stop?”
Fayoade Adegoke, a police officer who said he was representing the AIG of Zone Two Head Quarters, Oniru, told the crowd that the AIG had gone for a meeting over the SARS matter, and assured the protesters that the issue will be addressed.
“The Inspector-General of Police has addressed the issue; the guidelines have been issued out to all police senior officers. This issue you have come for has become an open one and will be addressed
“The directive this time is very emphatic, the IG’s directive is very emphatic and there is no police unit that will go against the IG’s directive,” the officer said.
However, Falz said that they were asking for the complete abolition of the unit because they are not doing what they were created to do and that they are now conducting robberies instead of curbing it.
“They are robbing us, they are harassing innocent youths, they are killings us,” said the singer.
The protest started on Wednesday with youths gathering at Ikeja Underbridge displaying placards and calling for an end to the menace.
Falz also vowed to return to the streets on Tuesday.