#EndSARS: Protesters block Lekki-Epe toll gate, make new demands

*Sanwoolu, Minister sue for peace

THERE is massive gridlock at Lekki Toll Gate as #EndSARS protesters shutdown the expressway on Monday morning.

The protesters have sustained the agitation demanding the scrap of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.

This is despite the disbandment of the unit announced by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) yesterday.

It was gathered that the #EndSARS protesters hit the Lekki Toll Gate section of the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos State, to resume demonstrations.

The development led to early morning gridlock as commuters and motorists on their way to work were on standstill.
It was learnt that the protesters have come up with a new list of demands following the announcement of the disbandment by the IGP.

They demand the release of all arrested protesters, justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families.

Protesters called on the authorities to carry out psychological evaluation and re-training of all disbanded SARS officers before they are redeployed.

The protesters also called for increased salaries for police officers and the establishment of an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of police misconduct within 10 days.

Most of the protesters have beenscepticall about the decision of the IGP, as announced yesterday, to end SARS

In one of the five points made yesterday by the IGP, Adamu had said a new policing arrangement to replace the now-defunct police unit would be announced “in due course”, adding that all officers of the disbanded SARS have been redeployed with “immediate effect”.

Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, have urged youth protesting against police brutality and extortion in the country not to doubt the sincerity of the President Buhari in disbanding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The governor appealed after he arrived from Ondo State where he was Chairman of the All Progressives Congress governorship campaign team.

The governor also appealed to the #EndSARS protesters to be peaceful.
He described the dissolution of SARS by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, as a victory for the Nigerian youth.

He said the protests showed that people have the right to express their views, adding that “the government meant business about the disbandment of SARS. We should not doubt the government’s sincerity.

“The beauty of democracy is that people have the right to protest, to air their views, to speak out when things are not going right and I have identified with them.

”This is real democracy being played out. They have the right as our youths, as our citizens to correct and say we do not want this.

”Let me commend all of our youths that have come out in Lagos. I have been monitoring daily and it has been very peaceful. That is what we want, you can make your point in a peaceful and orderly manner.”

In a similar vein Minister of Police Affairs in a tweet said the Buhari-led government was committed to disbanding SARS.

He tweeted, “I urge Nigerians to see the disbandment of SARS, as government’s commitment to deepening relationship between Nigerians and the police, for better service delivery. Let’s continue to work together to secure our communities.”

Despite entreaties from prominent Nigerians to protesters to give the President and the IGP the benefit of the doubt protesters have argued that previous commitments announced by the force to ban SARS operatives and other personnel did not affect.