Nigeria Police Dismiss Claims of Detained #EndSARS ProtestersThe Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims by former Senator Shehu Sani that some protesters arrested during the 2020 #EndSARS protests are still in detention.
The police stated that all arrested individuals have been processed according to the law and none remain unlawfully detained.The protests, which began as a Twitter campaign in 2017, aimed to demand the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) due to allegations of police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
The protests led to widespread damage to police stations and formations across the country, resulting in arrests.While some arrested protesters were released, others were believed to be held in various police stations. However, the police have now clarified that all matters related to the protests have been concluded, and lessons have been learned.The police urged the public to disregard Shehu Sani’s claims and assured them of their commitment to upholding justice, the rule of law, and human rights.
The statement partly read, “The Nigeria Police affirms that no individual is being unlawfully detained by the Nigeria Police Force or any other security agency in Nigeria due to the EndSARS protest.”
In related news, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had pardoned approximately 100 suspects arrested by the police during the protest. The police emphasized that no one is under detention or being wrongly persecuted for participating in the #EndSARS protest.