Lekki toll gate massacre: IPOB accuses Tinubu of aiding killing of End SARS protesters

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Wednesday, linked the shooting at the lekki toll gate in Lagos State to Bola Tinubu, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

IPOB alleged that Tinubu “aided and abated” the killings of End SARS protesters by gunmen believed to be soldiers at the Lekki toll gate.

A statement by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the APC National Chairman won’t be allowed to enjoy his alleged stolen wealth.

According to Powerful: “IPOB is calling on all the revolutionists to organize themselves together and bring down every property belonging to former Gov Ahmed Tinubu.

“He can’t aid and abate the killing of peaceful protesters in Lekki and expect to enjoy his stolen wealth in peace.

“Other wicked politicians masterminding this carnage or supporting Fulani terrorist government tormenting Nigerians should also be made to reap the reward of their atrocities.”

#EndSARS: How SARS officials demanded $1,000 from me – Nigerian Footballer

More Nigerian players are coming out to share their ordeal in the hands of officials of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit in the Nigeria Police Force, and also joining in the agitations to end the unit immediately.

The latest is former Shooting Stars and Kano Pillars’ attacking midfielder, Tony Edjomariegwe.

Edjomariegwe, who currently plays in Morocco with Moghreb Tétouan, claimed  in a Facebook post that SARS officials demanded $1,000 when he was in the country last year for the holidays.

He wrote: “I remembered last year I came back and was stopped by Sars and they told me I was a suspect asking me to call my coach, captain and president of my team. They even asked me which police station I reported to when I came into the country, Even after seeing all evidence of me and my job on youtube and google, they still took me to a police station and ask me to come behind the station while smoking all sorts of stuffs weeds and the rest asking me to pay 1000$. It’s pathetic and annoying seeing the harassment extortions and killings. We nor do again oga president. #Endsarsnow 

In the past days, there have been widespread protests across the country as many have expressed their reservations particularly against the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Among other things, SARS officials have been accused of harassment of citizens, intimidation and extra-judicial killings in the discharge of their duties across Nigeria.

Football players ,who are often flamboyant in their lifestyle with many enjoy wearing dreadlocks, dying their hair in different colours and the likes , have been wrongly profiled and harassed by SARS officials on many occasions.

Meanwhile, football superstars Wilfred Ndidi and Asisat Oshoala have added their voices to the #EndSARS campaign.

The two players wondered how wearing dreads or dyed hair would be a crime and jointly called for an end to police brutality.

Ndidi, on his Twitter account, wrote: “#EndSARS  for the safety of Nigerians… we are scared to visit home because the people who are meant to protect us are killing us. Looking good with dreads is not a crime…”

Oshoala ,on her Facebook Page, wrote: ”Some of us have good paying jobs and still like our HAIR like this…..DREADLOCK no be crime, to apply DYE for HAIR no be crime.

”And THANKS to everyone that wished me happy birthday yesterday….LOVE ALWAYS ??#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality.”

IGP disbands SARS satellite offices across Nigeria

Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), has banned operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from undertaking routine patrols as well as stop and search duties.

Frank Mba, police spokesman, disclosed the directive of the IGP in a statement on Sunday.

The directive is coming in the wake of an outrage over alleged criminal and extra-judicial actions of FSARS officers against citizens in various parts of the country.

In the statement, Mba said the IGP also directed that no officer should embark on a patrol in mufti.

The inspector-general of police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect,” he said.

“The IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.

“They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.”

Mba quoted Adamu as saying FSARS and other police tactical squads remain “a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country”.

“He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads,” the force public relations officer said.

“He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road.

“They are to ensure prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force.

The IGP has equally warned that henceforth, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and the FCT as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR).”

The police spokesman said two FSARS officers and one civilian accomplice have been arrested in Lagos for professional misconduct.

“Two operatives of the FSARS and their civilian accomplice operating in Lagos State, INSPR Sale James, INSPR Monday Uchiola and Okechukwu Ogbonna, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for acts of professional misconduct including extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens,” he said.

“The operational vehicle of the men has also been impounded and disciplinary procedure has already commenced against the defaulters.”