A coalition of civil society groups will on Monday (today) hold rallies nationwide to press home their demand for the dismantling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad by the police authorities for alleged high-handedness.
The movement said the rally would hold in Abuja at the Unity Fountain; Lagos – Gani-Fawehinmi Park, Ojota; Warri – Enerhen Junction; Jos – Polo Terminus and Port Harcourt – Garrison Junction.
The peaceful protest would also take place in Kaduna – Murtala Square; Ibadan – Mokola Junction and Awka – Wetheral/Okigwe Road Roundabout, the coalition said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
The organisers of the protests included Convener #EndSARS, Segun Awonsonya; Convener, Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, Coordinator, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy, Ariyo Atoye; Adebayo Raphael of the OurMumuDonDo Movement, and Abdul Mahmud and Bako Usman of the Campaign for Democracy.
The group said they were appalled by the brutality and extrajudicial executions perpetrated by the SARS operatives, noting that the government must put an end to the lawlessness by the squad in the country.
It contended that the allegations against the squad, some of which were corroborated with pictures and videos, showed that the unit had outlived its usefulness and had become a menace to the Nigerian society.
“We are appalled by the stories told by victims, friends and family members of victims who have recounted experiences of extortion, torture, murder and disappearance of friends and loved ones.
“To this end, we will be holding a series of peaceful protests around the country on Monday, December 11, 2017 at locations in several cities to call for the immediate dissolution of SARS as a police unit,” the coalition stated.
The movement explained that its protests would also demand greater funding of the police, better training, provision of equipment and insurance for police personnel among other issues.
“Whilst calling for the scrapping of the unit, we are also calling for greater funding of the police, better training, the provision of better equipment and living quarters, the provision of insurance, the establishment of a stricter code of conduct, the public prosecution and discipline of errant police officers and such other connected matters,” the #EndSARS campaigners disclosed.