By Adesina Soyooye
The recent #EndSARS nationwide protest rocking Nigeria, triggered by the incessant killing of Nigerians, the youths in particular, by the SARS branch of the Police has turned violent. In Delta state, one Policeman has been murdered. another injured, and an AK47 stolen.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, M.A Adamu, has condemned what he called the unprovoked and violent attack on policemen and the 8 to police operational vehicles and other assets by ENDSARS protesters in Ughelli, Delta State, on Thursday, 8th October, 2020.
The incident, according to Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, resulted in the unfortunate death of one Police officer, Corporal Etaga Stanley attached to ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, Delta State who, he said, “was attacked and brutally murdered by the protesters also left another, Sergeant Patrick Okuone with serious body injury sustained from gunshot by the protesters.
“The protesters also carted away one (1) service AK47 rifle with breach no 56-2609008 and 25 rounds of live ammunition that was with the deceased at the time of the incident.”
The IGP, who described the incident as cruel and unwarranted, has warned that the Force will no longer tolerate any attack on its personnel or any member of the law enforcement community by any individual or group protesting under any guise.
The IGP, Mba said, noted that the protest by citizens remain a legitimate means for airing their concerns and views. It must, however, be carried out with all sense of responsibility and within the confines of the law.
The IGP, while condoling the family and friends of the late Corporal Etaga Stanley who paid the supreme price in the service of our dear nation, equally commended the officers of the Delta State Police Command for exercising restraint in the face of the immoral and unjustified provocation
Meanwhile, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police, Delta State to carry out a discrete investigation into the unfortunate incident, root-out the perpetrators and bring the killer protesters to book.
The protest has been on for days to protest the brutalities meted out to innocent youths in particular, by SARS. The SARS brutalities also attracted strong condemnations by the Vice President the leadership of the Nation Assembly and a broad spectrum of Nigerians.
In response, the IGP has barred SARS and other such outfits from some of their notorious  activities, especially indiscriminate arrests, seizing and scrolling of people’s phones.
Protesters are asking for the scrapping of SARS, but Mba says its scrapping is not possible. It can only be reformed.
This will be the fourth time the Force Headquarters will take action against SARS. None has worked out. The killings continue. And so have the brutalities and the extortion.
