Insecurity: Borno Youths Decry The End of SARS |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

In the case of the recent dissolution of the Federal Special Armed Robbery Squad, FSARS, by the Federal Government, it is different strikes for different people. In Borno State, the youths say they want the outfit which has helped in protecting them from the hands of criminals.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu. had. on Sunday, October 11, dissolved, nationwide, the Police crime-fighting branch,   popularly known by its acronym, SARS.

The dissolution was triggered by  the #EndSARS protests embarked upon by Nigerian youths against SARS, over what they term the brutalities and humiliation and extortion of innocent Nigerians, especially, the youths.

There have been a number of killings of youths, most of them, innocent by the outfit. Many of them had been labelled criminals  just on the basis of their mode of dressing, hairstyles, owning an I-phone, or a laptop.

For six days, and counting, the youths have shut-down and grounded states. The President’s daughter, Zahra Buhari-Indimi, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s  daughter, Kiki, and many celebrities joined the protests. Osinbajo, himself, expressed worry, over the activities of SARS.

A number of fatalities on both the sides- Police and the youths – have been recorded.

The climax was the dissolution of SARS, the redeployment of its personnel, and the promise by the IGP to set up another outfit to take over the important job SARS was doing before it deviated.

The actions taken so far have not stopped the protests.

However, in Borno State, it is a different kind of protest. The youths are protesting the dissolution of SARS, insisting that their situation in Borno state was not taken into consideration before the dissolution of SARS.

In a peaceful march to the office of the Governor, they said they no longer felt safe without the presence of SARS personnel, and appealed to the FG and the FHQ, to urgently put together the new outfit that would replace SARS to ensure their safety.

They were received in audience by the Deputy Governor of the State. Borno  is one of the states in the North, which has been under intense insecurity for years.

It is, however, not known yet when the new outfit will be put together, but Vice President Osinbajo promises it would meet the expectations of the people, while President Buhari promised the prosecution of SARS operatives who took part in the brutalities against  innocent Nigerians.

The protests continue.