EndSARS: Chris Okafor condemns killings of unarmed protesters
A demonstrator holds a placard to protest against abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at the Lekki toll Plaza in Lagos, on October 12, 2020. – Nigerians protested to pressure the government to follow through on disbanding a feared police unit after authorities made the rare concession in the face of widespread anger over abuses.<br />Around 2,000 people blocked one of the main highways in the country’s biggest city Lagos, demanding officials make good on an announcement on October 11, 2020, that the federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was being scrapped. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)
The cleric frown at the steps taken by the Federal Government to stop the ongoing #EndSars protests across the country.
According to him, both the Federal and Lagos state governments failed to employ the right means to engage the protesters, but allowed the situation to degenerated with the introduction of soldiers to face unarmed citizens.
He said the decision has resulted in the death of many youths with others wounded.
“Where in the world have we seen soldiers deployed to curtail peaceful protests end up shooting innocent souls. I think it is high time government begins to retrace its steps to ensure peaceful coexistence in the country.
“This is the worst action taken by the Federal Government and until our leaders realised that the power of the youths cannot be ignored, it’s then we can say the dividend of democracy can be felt by all.
“I sympathize with the fallen heroes and their families, they have actually sacrificed their lives for the betterment of the country.
“Government needs to act fast to ensure that the action exhibited by the Nigerian Army would not degenerate into another crisis,” he said.
