Soccer Stars Speak Out About #EndSars

The past few days in Nigeria have been egregious as it is crazy. It is that everyone in these parts seem to the calling for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit in the Nigeria Police Force. And it should be that simple.

After years of torments from the inhumanity and extra-judicial killings by these men who do not seem to understand what their job should be; taking the lives which they were meant to protect, it is about time.

Earlier this year, a Remo Stars defender Tiyamiyu Kazeem was inexplicably shot dead by a SARS official after an encounter in Ogun State, the South Western region
of Nigeria. Poor Kazeem. May his soul continue to rest on in peace.

So you wouldnt begrudge the scores of enraged youths who had fearlessly took to the streets protesting in frenzied fashion in the past days, and it helps that a number of celebrities have thrown their weights behind them.

The IGP of the country Mohammed Adamu, has since been forced to announce the disbandment of the association, though his debrief that the operatives will be ‘redeployed to other police formations and commands’ had freshly set the cats amongst the pigeons. The youths were not going to have any of that. These ‘animals’ deserved to go outrightly, and should not have any business in the force.

BREAKING: Nigerian Government Bows To Citizens Demand, Disbands SARS | Sahara Reporters https://t.co/DzDUfhaX6t#EndSARS @PoliceNG pic.twitter.com/b4UMeYXP3T

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 11, 2020

It is no longer news that the situation have deteriorated so much as to homicide. Just so that you know that these ones had lost it completely, they had resorted to sporadically shooting at the protesters! YES! Like opening fire on unarmed civilians during a peaceful protest! Heavens! I would not want to dig up the gory, blood-cuddling videos and pictures. This is already depressing enough.

Even the rains that came down in torrents today still would not dissuade them..

Amongst the world’s football stars who have spoken up is Antonio Rudiger..

Police brutality in Nigeria needs attention. You do that to your own people.💔 It is so sad what is going on there. 🇳🇬 This has to end ❌🙏🏾 #PeaceFirst #EndSARS

— Antonio Rüdiger (@ToniRuediger) October 10, 2020

And Mesut Ozil. With another of his trademark assists yet..

Horrible to hear what’s been going on in Nigeria. Let's make this a trending topic everywhere ▶️ #EndSARS – My thoughts go out to everyone who has been affected. 🇳🇬💚 #EndPoliceBrutality

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) October 11, 2020

And Tammy Abraham. Yet on target here..

Dear Nigeria #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality 🙏🏾🇳🇬💔

— Tammy Abraham (@tammyabraham) October 10, 2020

And Marcus Rashford. Hitting the bull’s eye just as he’s always done..

My thoughts and prayers with all of those affected 🇳🇬 #EndSARS https://t.co/BnFJWjITkG

— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 11, 2020

Even Rio Ferdinand is not left out..

Another day of traumatic scenes in Nigeria 😫
Sending My Love To Everyone Affected 💚

🇳🇬 #EndSARS

— Dr Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) October 11, 2020

I so feel this is one of the many reforms this country needs if we would hit the heights expected of us. If you don’t know yet, quite a number of innocent folks here have suffered as a result. Let us put an end to police brutality and, #EndSarsNow. You can as well help by lending us your voice. Get on Twitter and tweet the trending hashtag. #EndSars.

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