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Nigerians have been demonstrating across the country every day for almost two weeks against the police unit that human rights groups had accused for years of extortion, harassment, torture and murder.
Hundreds of Nigerian citizens living in South Africa on October 21, 2020 took to the streets of Pretoria in protest against the widely criticized Special Anti-Theft Squad (SARS) in their country. Image: Veronica Makhoali / EWN.
PRETORIA – Hundreds of Nigerian citizens living in South Africa on Wednesday took to the streets of Pretoria in protest against the much-criticized Special Anti-Theft Squad (SARS) at home.
Nigerians have been demonstrating across the country every day for almost two weeks against the police unit that human rights groups had accused for years of extortion, harassment, torture and murder.
The squad disbanded 10 days ago, but protests persisted and human rights groups claimed that up to 20 people died overnight.
Emotions were running high in Pretoria as protesters continued to arrive to join the protest against the notorious SARS.
#EndSARS Tensions are high outside the Nigerian embassy in Pretoria, where hundreds of Nigerian citizens living in South Africa have gathered. VM pic.twitter.com/A3ZvAW4cGf
EWN reporter (@ EWN reporter) October 21, 2020
Wearing black T-shirts and the colors of the Nigerian flag, the protesters headed to the Nigerian embassy.
They said that SARS had exposed the ongoing corrupt leadership in Nigeria.
“There have been many unlawful killings in Nigeria and brutality by the police and the army. Now the youth have awakened and we are saying that they should stop killing us, ”said one protester.
Some accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of plunging the country into debt, corruption and gross human rights violations.
“He is an idiot… We need a change, we are tired of him, he is an old man, and he no longer thinks well. We want him to address the protesters, if he can’t, he should leave office, ”said another protester.
The protesters also called on the governments of other African countries to take a position.
#EndSARS Hundreds of Nigerian citizens living in South Africa have taken to the streets of Pretoria to protest against the widely criticized police unit known as the Special Anti-Theft Squad (SARS). VM pic.twitter.com/EVNWH22BR9
EWN reporter (@ EWN reporter) October 21, 2020
Protesters carrying Nigerian flags also march in Cape Town’s CBD.
Previously, traffic authorities reported that they were heading down Hanover Street towards Darling Street.
It is understood that two Nyalas water cannons are stationed at the main gate of Parliament.
There are also reports of public order police units in the area.
ODION IGHALO SLAMS NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT
At the same time, Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo said he was ashamed of the Nigerian government following reports that soldiers opened fire on protesters in the Lekki district of the commercial capital Lagos.
“The Nigerian government, are you a shame to the world for killing your own citizens, sending the military to the streets to kill unarmed protesters because you are protesting for your own rights? It’s unnecessary, ”he said.
“You will be remembered in history as the first government to send military personnel to the city to begin killing its own citizens. I am ashamed of this government, we are tired of you and we cannot take this anymore. “
Pray for NIGERIA pic.twitter.com/V7i4Ngs9qd
Odion Jude Ighalo (@ighalojude) October 20, 2020
Ighalo called on the UK government, world leaders and the United Nations to intervene. He also asked his compatriots to stay safe during this dangerous time.
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