Popular Nigerian Singer, Naira Marley has cancelled the mass action scheduled to protest against the excesses reported cases of extra-judicial killings, extortion, harassment and other vices allegedly perpetrated by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
In the past four days, many Nigerian celebrities have lent their voices to the campaign for the total dissolution of the police unit.
Following the agitations on social media, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, banned some police units, including SARS from operating on the roads.
Meanwhile, Nigerians seem to be unsatisfied with the ban because similar restrictions and the disbandment of the police unit announced before Sunday have not been implemented.
Naira Marley, during an Instagram live session on his official handle on Monday, opposed calls to disband SARS. Instead, he called for a protest.
The 26-year-old argued that ending SARS is not the problem just because of a ‘‘few bad eggs’’.
‘‘I don’t think EndSARS is the problem. It’s not about EndSARS, what are you talking about EndSARS? If you end SARS, the police are going to shoot or someone else with a gun is still going to shoot,” he said.
“You need to stop the shooting, it’s not about ending SARS. Like to be honest, there are actually a lot of SARS that are actually doing their work. Not all police are bad.”
On Monday evening, he announced that the protest will start from 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
“So 9am tomorrow we move. 2nd toll gate
Peaceful protest No vandalism, no fights and no stealing,” he wrote via his official twitter account.
However, a few hours after the post was made, the operatives of the police force ans the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare had appealed to the singer to stop the protest.
While reacting to the Naira Marley’s call for protest, the Police on their official twitter account said on Tuesday morning that: “@officialnairam1 The Inspector General of Police wishes to inform Nigerian youths that their voices and complaints on the issues of unprofessional conducts by some SARS operatives have been heared very loudly and clearly.
“The Force is irrevocably committed to changing these narratives and undertaking far-reaching reforms to reposition SARS and other Tactical Squads for better service delivery.
“The Orders and restrictions on the operations of SARS and others already issued by the IGP are just the initial steps out of the many reforms planned for the Tactical Squads.
“The Leadership of the NPF will work with the Ministry of Youth and other stakeholders, including Youth leaders, youth entrepreneurs, CSOs and others in formulating and implementing consensual reforms.
“Today, Tuesday 6th October, 2020, by 11am, the Force PRO- DCP Frank Mba will be having a live instagram chat with Naira Marley to answer questions and discuss the concerns of young Nigerians on the issues of SARS operations and other burning issues. Please stay tuned.”
Also, the Minister assured NairaMarley that the federal government will address the grievances.
“I urge you and other youth not to embark upon any protest. Your grievances are being addressed at the highest level of government. As the Minister in charge of youth I know this is an issue that must be tackled. Government is doing just that,” Mr Dare wrote in response to the singer’s tweet.
Reacting to the development on Tuesday morning, the singer said: “We won’t be protesting anymore because there’s a lot of changes being made right now. As a Marlian we will give them a week to see the changes and if there’s no changes we will start a mass protest. #togetherwecan”
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