Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has broken silence on the ongoing protest against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and the attendant violence that visited the mass action across the country.
Releasing a statement on Wednesday, Mr Obasanjo declared that the country was at a critical movement in the ongoing crisis, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to act now before it is too late.
“We are at a critical moment in this crisis and Mr President must act now before it is too late. This time demands leadership and mature leadership at such,” he added.
According to Mr Obasanjo, shooting and murder of unarmed protesters, has never been effective in suppressing public anger and frustration
He said: “I particularly appeal to president Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacities as President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and as a parent of youth like the ones who have in the last week come out in peaceful protest against police brutality and for improvement in their lives and their living conditions, to restrain the military and other security agencies from using brute force as a way of ending the crisis.
“The shooting and murder of unarmed protesters, no matter the level of provocation, has never been effective in suppressing public anger and frustration. Instead, such actions only reinforce the anger and frustration of the populace and close the window of dialogue and peaceful resolution.”
Recall that the #EndSARS protests have been on, even after disbanding the police squad, sparking some pockets of violence in the FCT, Kano, Ekiti and Osun states.
Lagos State is, however, worst hit as far killings in concerned.
Unconfirmed reports have indicated that no fewer than 40 people had been killed by suspected military personnel on Tuesday, following the banning of the protest and imposition of 24-hour curfew across the state.
