The protesters are protesting against the harassment and extrajudicial killings perpetrated mainly by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.

The governor, while appealing to the protesters noted that Federal and State governments had heard the voices of the youths and had swung into action, thereby urging the #EndSARS protesters to allow governments at all levels play its roles to make the demanded changes happen.

The Governor, who spoke at the 20th National Women Virtual Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials held at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos on Wednesday, urged the youths to leave the streets and allow their “elected representatives to take up the challenge from where they left off.”

Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to the governor made this known in a statement titled, ‘#EndSARS Protests: Sanwo-Olu, Oyetola, Lagos First Lady Urge Youths To Remain Calm’.

Sanwo-Olu was quoted in the statement as saying, “I want to humbly request and appeal to our youths that their voices have been heard; their grievances have been well taken; their cause is a just and important cause. We have listened to them and listened to them very well. Government more than ever before will do things differently and positively. We can all see the efforts we have started since yesterday and today going forward.

“I want to appeal once again that because of the global pandemic that we have witnessed over last six to seven months, the youths should let the effects of the protest go down. And they should know that their voice has been heard, let government play their roles and play it well.”

He lamented that the protests have led to gridlocks that have paralysed business activities in different parts of the state and other parts of Nigeria.

“Businesses have suffered; people are just coming back to businesses. It would be unfair for those businesses not to be able to get back on their feet again because we have a larger social-economic effect.

“I know and I appreciate the challenges that all of you are going through. I appreciate the unfortunate incident that has happened to some of our youths. But like I said, we have heard you and we heard you very well.

“Please let those changes that you asked for, let them begin to happen. We have made commitments in Lagos State and other states too have made commitments. Let us see the effects of those changes and commitments we have given,” the governor noted.

Also speaking at the event, Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, said, “Let me appeal to our youths protesting against police brutality to remain calm and allow their elected representatives to take up the challenge from where they left off.

“We are convinced as leaders and we are ready to join the voice of reason to make Nigeria a better place.”

Recall that this protest have been going on for the past one week across the country despite the Inspector General Police announcement of SARS disbandment.

The thugs, who barged into the protest venue at Berger junction around 1pm were armed with cutlasses and reportedly fired gunshots in the air before chasing away the protesters, and destroyed vehicles parked in the area.

The protesters had blocked the Julius Berger roundabout, Wuse, with disused tyres and stones, and also prevented motorists from plying the route as they occupied the bridge.

The attackers, who were speaking Hausa language, also vandalised about five cars parked in the vicinity.

However, no life was lost as the police took control of the situation while the injured were taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Tuesday set up a new unit to replace the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team will “fill the gaps” arising from the dissolution of SARS.

But, despite the announcement, protests are still ongoing in different states.

The dissolvent of the police unit is coming after several days of online and offline protests against the brutality and extra-judicial killings by SARS operatives nationwide.

Below are five key things that should be known about the pronouncement made by the IGP.

1. SARS has been dissolved across all the thirty-six state commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

2. All officers and men serving in the unit are to be deployed to other police commands, formations, and units.

3. A new policing arrangement for tackling the offenses of armed robbery and other violent crimes will be unveiled to the public soon.

4. A citizen and strategic stakeholders forum will be launched to provide an avenue to the citizen to engage and advise police authority issues touching on the general public.

5. An investigation team will be set up to deal with the report of crimes committed against citizens.  The team will include civil society organisations, and the aim is to ensure that culprits are brought to justice.

The dissolvent of the police unit is coming after several days of online and offline protests against the brutality and extra-judicial killings by SARS operatives nationwide.

The Inspector-General disclosed this in a live broadcast on Sunday afternoon at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

According to Adamu, the operatives will be redeployed to other police formations and commands.

“The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force otherwise known as SARS is hereby dissolved in all the 36 State Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory,” the IGP said.

Adamu, however, stated that a new policing arrangement to replace the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad will be announced “in due course”.

The protesters were carrying placards emblazoned with different inscriptions like #EdnSARSNow, WeDontNeedSARS etc and were raucously chanting.

With many Police officers barricading them from entering the headquarters, the protesters demanded for the presence of IGP Adamu.

They were calling President Muhammdu Buhari’s name, urging him to end SARS now.

Recall that Adamu had informed Nigerian youths that their voices and complaints on the issues of unprofessional conducts by some SARS operatives have been heard very loudly and clearly.

On that note he banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect.

Both entertainers led the protest, which took place in the Lekki area of Lagos on Thursday.

During the protest, youths were seen carrying placards and chanting #EndSARS with inscriptions on some of the placards read, ‘Enough is Enough’ and ‘We are all victims’.

Both Falz and Runtown counselled the protesters not to be violent as they engaged security operatives who attempted to disrupt the protest.

In an Instagram live chat before the protest, Falz, son of human rights activist, Femi Falana, said, “No backing down. We move. The police are already there, waiting for us but we are not here to cause trouble. It is a peaceful protest. Coming through.”

The protesters, who gathered at Lekki toll gate, are marching to Onikan and Appeal Court through the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

The protesters are seeking the dissolution of the FSARS unit of the Nigeria Police Force.

Recall that there had been an earlier announcement that the #ENDSARS protest would be held across Lagos for three days, starting from Wednesday.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the plenary on Wednesday, spoke on the illegal activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Police and the abuse of human rights by its operatives.

Gbajabiamila stated that it was now time for the parliament to step in, proposing the amendment of laws that prevent interference in the affairs of the police and check the excesses of its personnel.

The Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, later moved a motion of urgent national importance, on the human rights abuses by SARS operatives.

The Senate, however ordered the arrest and prosecution of operatives of SAR who were involved in the recent killings of innocent Nigerians across the country.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, stated this while ruling on the Senate resolution on a motion by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Tinubu, in her motion, drew the attention of her colleagues to the recent extra-judicial killings and human rights abuses by SARS operatives.

According to Lawan, a mere dismissal of overzealous and reckless operatives was not enough but that they must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Those who are involved in the recent killings of innocent Nigerians should be arrested and prosecuted.

“Scrapping the SARS now may not be the best option because the nation may lose the best hands in the agency while trying to do away with the bad eggs among them.

“The dismissal of the bad ones among them is not also enough. Offenders must be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

The red chamber also mandated its committee on Police, Judiciary and Human Rights to probe human rights abuses of Nigerians by SARS operatives in the last few years.

The chamber asked the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to establish a special unit that will constantly investigate and monitor the conduct of SARS operatives.

It also directed the authorities of the Nigerian Police Force to utilise part of its trust fund to trains its operatives.

The youths who gathered at Ikeja Underbridge for the protest share videos and photos using the hashtag #LagosProtests.

They displayed placards with various inscriptions lamenting police brutality and unlawful killings.

The youths in a signed petition said despite several reforms announced by the Inspector General of Police, “cases of abuse of citizens by operatives of the Special Anit-Robbery Squad have increased without any steps taken by the high command of the Nigeria Police Force to address the fundamental problem of impunity of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.”

They, therefore, demand the total disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

They plan to take the protest to Police Headquarters in Ikeja and to the Lagos State House of Assembly and continue for the next three days.

See tweet below:

The message is simple and clear— #EndSars!
#EndSARSProtest #LagosProtestspic.twitter.com/kpZ65cRkGI

— I'm Dammy (@AyamDamiee) October 7, 2020

We're here now. #EndSarsProtests #LagosProtests ✊?✊?✊?✊?

Join us!

?Ikeja Under Bridge pic.twitter.com/8VwQ6z5RT4

— Sars Watch ?️ (@sars_watch) October 7, 2020

DEMANDS OF THE #LagosProtests

1. ENDSARS ❌
2. Transparent prosecution of all guilty officers
3. Justice for People who have suffered injustice in the past
4. A list of Officers that have been held culpable should be published #EndSarsProtests pic.twitter.com/v7cZLBu99L

— DANNY WALTER? #ShoePlug (@DannyWalta) October 7, 2020

END SARS NOW!!! I AM NOT A CRIMINAL!#LagosProtests #EndSarsProtests #Endpolicebrutality #EndSarsNow pic.twitter.com/iNFPm79JQ3

— END SARS NOW!!! (@zinux17) October 7, 2020