The #EndSARS protests are already degenerating into anarchy.
The heat of the current protest has recently taken a new dimension in Nigeria as more people Joins from all parts of the country. A lot of people seems to be very angry and in this, they have taken to the streets to vent their anger.
It started as a small fire. But it is growing into an inferno. The #EndSARS protests that started two weeks ago are showing no sign of abating. The youthful protesters are continuing the protests with increased energy and enthusiasm.
“From the five demands which were initially tabled and have been addressed, they are now including petrol price, national assembly salaries, and allowances, electricity tariff among others,” Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed was quoted as saying.
Initially, it was a protest against police brutality and abuse of power. By October 11, the escalating intensity of the nationwide protests prompted the dissolution of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), known as SARS, in all the 36 State Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory. The unit was set up to tackle armed robbery and kidnapping
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, who announced the scrapping of SARS, later introduced a new Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team to replace SARS.
If the authorities thought this action was enough to end the protests, they were mistaken. Subsequent events have shown that the anti-SARS protests were just the tip of the iceberg.
Importantly, the country was witnessing a move for change driven by youths. It is now clear that the protests have grown into a demand for good governance or a demand for an end to bad governance.
The minister, suspecting “an ulterior motive,” was reported saying “you begin to ask yourself what exactly is the motive of the protests and who are those behind them.” Is he suggesting that the country is getting good governance, and there is no need for such protests? The people know governance could be better. The protesters know this too.
It was redeeming that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo apologised to Nigerians on behalf of the Federal Government. “Dear Nigerians,” he tweeted, “I know that many of you are angry, and understandably so. We could’ve moved faster and for this we are sorry…Many feel that we have been too silent and have simply not done enough. These feelings of frustration are justified…We also understand that the issues that you’re raising are bigger than just SARS.”
Earlier Monday afternoon, a group of angry thugs stumbled on RRS Officers on Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba in Lagos and the reaction has been violent. These angry thugs took to their will to attack the officers as they threw stones at their vehicles, run after them and beat the ones they could catch mercilessly.
This continue for a while and even as these officers held on to their guns, they did not shoot at anyone of them. Instead, they ran away and tried to evade the scene to prevent more harm to themselves.
These has raised a lot of reactions from far and wide as people wonder if these thugs are part of the protest to EndSars in Nigeria. Some people have claimed them to be part of the protest and since they are tired and frustrated about the negative things happening in the country, they choose to express their anger this way.
According report by the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, SP Oluwamuyiwa Adejobi, he stated that “ninety seven (97) policemen, who were being conveyed to their various beats on routine relief duties across the state, came across the violent protesters who started shouting “No Police, No Police”, and stoned them. After the attacks, nineteen (19) of the policemen were critically injured while 4 police vehicles were damaged.
In Ikeja, the protesters blocked the road to the State Government Secretariat, Alausa, where the office of the Governor is situated. They occupied Under the Ikeja, Oba Akran bridge and Awolowo way, blocking motorists off Awolowo way and Allen Avenue.
Worse still, the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway was blocked; the road leading to the local and international airport were also sealed off. Not left out was the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
In Edo, the protesters stormed the correctional centre (prison), called White House in Benin, Edo State and released prisoners
-Watch the video of the prison break here
Many inmates in one of the cells escaped when suspected hoodlums broke into the facility.
This is even as some of the inmates sustained varying degrees of injuries when the armed squad of the centre engaged the hoodlums in gun fire.
Part of the nearby State High Court 4 was also vandalized by the attackers.
It was gathered that the hoodlums began gathering along Sapele Road, beside the facility as early as 7 am.
They were said to have set bonfires, sending back road users.
Thereafter, they launched their attack when their number had swelled considerably, broke a part of the wall while some climbed the high fence into the correctionla yard.
A few of the inmates escaped with gunshots.
An elderly inmate who pretended as a passerby was recaptured while walking away.
