Nigeria: SERAP Faults Wike’s Anti-SARS Protest Ban

By Development Diaries
October 13, 2020

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned Governor Nyesom Wike’s ban on anti-SARS protest in Rivers State, south-south Nigeria.

Governor Wike said there was no need for any form of demonstration in the oil-rich state since the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Nigerian police dissolved SARS following one week of widespread protests against police brutality.

SARS, which was specifically set up to fight robbery and kidnapping, has long been accused of harassment, unlawful arrests, torture and killings.

Although the police unit has been dissolved, protesters are demanding, amongst other things, a total overhaul of the police force and the release of all arrested protesters.

‘The Rivers State government hereby wish to inform the general public that all forms of protests have been banned throughout the state’, Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, said in a statement.

‘Therefore, all proposed protests under #EndSARS campaign are hereby prohibited.

‘Government took this decision because the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had already scrapped the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

‘Therefore, there is no need for any form of protest against a unit of the police force that no longer exists’.

The government advised parents and guardians to ensure that their children or wards do not violate the order.

However, SERAP, in a tweet, condemned the action of the Rivers government.

‘Governor Wike [has no] power whatsoever to ban #EndSARS protests or any peaceful protest for that matter’, the rights organisation said.

‘We [will] see Mr Wike in court if he uses Nigeria police/law enforcement agents to intimidate and harass Nigerian citizens simply for peacefully exercising their human rights’.

Videos shared recently on social media appear to show SARS operatives extorting money and even shooting people.

The hashtag #EndSARS was triggered by the alleged killing of a young man by SARS operatives in Lagos State on 03 October.

The police boss, Adamu, who announced the dissolution of SARS with immediate effect, noted that all SARS officers and men would be redeployed to other police commands, formations and units.

Also, the police chief said the force will work with civil society organisations (CSOs) and rights defenders to investigate cases of alleged human rights violations.

Source: SERAP