Police open fire on peaceful #EndSARS protesters in Abuja

 

- The #EndSARS protests are taking new dimensions as it enters Day 3 nationwide 

 - Police officers in the Nigerian capital, Abuja have resorted to violence in ending the protests 

- Tear gas was fired at young Nigerians staging a procession against police brutality in the nation's seat of power 

The Nigeria Police Force has opened fire on innocent protesters in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. 

The protesters were young Nigerians staging a procession against police brutality across the country before they were assaulted by policemen. 

Olu Onemola, a former news media assistant to ex-Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki is one of those arrested.

 Onemola tweeted that he is being detained at a station in Maitama, Abuja for participating in the protest. 

Onemola's ex-boss, Saraki, recently added his voice to the #EndSARS protests. 

He wrote on Twitter:

 “The reports of the aggression meted out to young Nigerians protesting the high handedness of rogue units of the Nigeria Police Force are deeply disturbing. “Leaders of our nation ought to listen to and engage with our youth on matters concerning their wellbeing. I hope this approach changes soon.” 

This past week, thousands of youths nationwide have taken to the streets to demand that police authorities scrap the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has become a thorn in the flesh of Nigerian youths in the past few years, harassing young men and women over their hairstyles, gadgets or cars. In the last few years, the hashtag #EndSARS have been prominent on Nigerian Twitter as the cases of police brutality move from dozens to hundreds. 

The recent social media campaigns have moved to the streets as young Nigerians vow to shut down the country until their voices are heard. Meanwhile, as the #EndSARS protests enter Day 3 nationwide, the Lagos state House of Assembly has called on the federal government to scrap the unit. The decision was taken at an emergency plenary session by the state House of Assembly on Friday, October 9. The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa had called for the session after protesters laid siege in the Assembly complex since Thursday, October 8.