Just like the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, the #EndSARS is also gathering international momentum

ByTunde Eludini

 

 October 10, 2020

 

2 min read

Though players of the Nigeria national team are several miles away from home in Austria where they are to play two friendly games, they have still identified with the widespread call to end police brutality in the country.

Protests have been going on simultaneously across the country as many have expressed their reservation particularly against the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit in the Nigeria Police Force.

SARS officials have been accused of harassment of citizens, intimidation and extra-judicial killings in the discharge of their duties across Nigeria.

In different messages on Twitter, on Friday, Ahmed Musa, Leon Balogun, John Ogu and many others all spoke against the police brutality on citizens, especially by the SARS.

Ahmed Musa wrote: “In a world where genuine love for ourselves seems to be so scarce, I sincerely pray that the right thing is done to put an end to the strife. #EndNorthBanditry #EndPoliceBrutality.”

In a world where genuine love for ourselves seems to be so scarce, I sincerely pray that the right thing is done to put an end to the strife. #EndNorthBanditry#EndPoliceBrutality  pic.twitter.com/hkQpd9eo6C

— AhmedMusa718 (@Ahmedmusa718) October 9, 2020

Everton forward, Alex Iwobi, wrote: “Protect Lives , Not Take Them Away 

#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality.”

William Troost-Ekong wrote: “We stand together! 

 

#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality.”

We stand together!  
#EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality pic.twitter.com/QiPu7zG0jj

— William Troost-Ekong (@WTroostEkong) October 9, 2020

For Leon Balogun, he expressed displeasure that police who are meant to protect citizens are now being accused of brutalizing them.

The reasons for the #EndSARSProtests have just come to my attention via very disturbing images & tweets. It is never good when those charged with protecting the citizens are now terrorising, extorting or even killing the same citizens. I support #EndSarsProtests #EndSars pic.twitter.com/ledTmthfta

— Leon Balogun (@LeonBalogun) October 9, 2020

He wrote: “The reasons for the #EndSARSProtests have just come to my attention via very disturbing images & tweets. It is never good when those charged with protecting the citizens are now terrorising, extorting or even killing the same citizens. I support #EndSarsProtests #EndSars Flag of NigeriaBroken heart.”

For John Ogu, the midfielder simply wrote: “Enough is Enough… #EndSARS.”



Enough is Enough .. #EndSARS

— John Ogu (@ogujohnugo) October 9, 2020


There have been pockets of cases where some professional footballer players in the country have shared their unpleasant experiences in the hands of SARS.

One of such was former Enyimba player Stephen Chukwude who according to reports was accosted by SARS officers on his way to Enugu and accused of being a “Yahoo Boy” on account of owning an iPhone and driving a Mercedes Benz.

Earlier this year also, Remo Stars defender, Tiyamiyu Kazeem, was allegedly shot dead by a SARS officer after an encounter in Ogun State

Just like the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, the #EndSARS is also gathering international momentum.

France youth international and Chelsea player, Malang Sarr, who is on a season-long loan at Porto has pledged his solidarity with Nigerians and called for an end to the police brutality.

I feel so touched by what is going on in Nigeria now. You have my full support! We all need to come together & make sure this ends now. Peace first before anything! #EndSARS #EndSARSImmediately #EndSarsNow#EndSarsProtests pic.twitter.com/bYE29fkGiT

— Malang Sarr (@M_SarrOfficial) October 9, 2020

“I feel so touched by what is going on in Nigeria now. You have my full support! We all need to come together & make sure this ends now. Peace first before anything,” Sarr wrote.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/419534-endsars-ahmed-musa-iwobi-other-super-eagles-stars-kick-against-police-brutality.html

Its commendable to see them kick against police brutality since dem no fit kick ball score against Algeria. Make dem no wear boots for leg for nothing, at least make dem kick something.

Is that why Algeria whoop their ass?

Why not just boycott the match in protest

SmartProf:
Its commendable to see them kick against police brutality since dem no fit kick ball score against Algeria. Make dem no wear boots for leg for nothing, at least make dem kick something.

wicked

Good one

Instead of them to ambadon the match in protest, they went ahead and thankfully, they lost.

We need physical demonstration from people like them to drive home the point, not social media posts that the President and his people won't see.