▪︎Wike address protesters, supports reforms in Nigeria Police Force.
#EndSARS protesters in Rivers State on Tuesday defied the ban on all forms of public protests in the State, to join the nationwide protest calling for total disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.
The State Government had on Monday night announced a ban on all forms of public protests in the State.
Addressing the protesters at Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike told them not to be satisfied that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force would be scrapped.
He said all Nigerians should support the “total reform” of the Nigeria Police Force.
“If we do not reform the Police, the same SARS officers will be deployed in other units of the Force to continue their evil acts.
“It is not only to end SARS. Already, there is a pronouncement to scrap it. But every Nigerian should support the total reform of the Police.
“SARS cannot and has never been our friend in Rivers state. They killed a lecturer at Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic without a cause and people kept quiet.
“President Muhammadu Buhari said he will reform the Police. Let us be ready to hold him by his words,” he said.
The governor stated that he took an oath of office to protect the life and property of Rivers people.
According to him, this made him to condemn the brutality and kidnapping activities of SARS officers against Rivers people.
He pointed out that instead of a national support against such evil, leaders in some quarters reduced it to politics.
“What we find in this country is that people play to the gallery. They hate people who speak the truth.
“When we raised the alarm over the killings of Rivers people by SARS operatives, nobody listened to us as they said I was playing politics with it.
“No Governor saw the need to speak out against that evil. That was because it was not happening in their States. Now the evil of SARS has touched them, they want everybody to join.
“Rivers State does not play second fiddle. The life of Rivers people matters to me and I will continue to protect them.
“What you are protesting against, I had campaigned against it long ago. If only they listened, we will not be protesting today,” he stated.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
