HeadlineIn Presidential Address, Buhari Says Deeply Pained Over Innocent Lives Lost During...

In Presidential Address, Buhari Says Deeply Pained Over Innocent Lives Lost During #EndSARS Protest

BEVERLY HILLS, October 22, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari says he is deeply pained that innocent lives were lost during the #EndSARS protests adding that persons will ulterior motives hijacked the peaceful protects to unleash anarchy in some parts of the country.

In his televised address on Thursday, the president urged protesters to stop the protests because their 5-point demands have since been accepted and being implemented.

He said: “I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial, genuine and well – intended protest of some of our youths in parts of the country, against the excesses of some members of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

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“On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of SARS.

“The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens, and the necessity to operate within the law.

“As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth.

“On approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of extensive Police reforms.

“Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests.

“The result of this is clear to all observers: human lives have been lost; acts of sexual violence have been reported; two major correctional facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalised; the sanctity of the Palace of a Peace Maker, the Oba of Lagos has been violated. So-called protesters have invaded an International Airport and in the process disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and our visitors.

“All these executed in the name of the ENDSARS protests. I am indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost. These tragedies are uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever to connect these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the youth of our country.

“The spreading of deliberate falsehood and misinformation through the social media in particular, that this government is oblivious to the pains and plight of its citizens is a ploy to mislead the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgement and disruptive behaviour.”

Lagos and several parts of southern Nigeria have declared curfews to restore normalcy to the streets after violence and anarchy were unleashed on police stations, prisons, citizens as well as private and state properties by hoodlums and mobs.

The number of dead remain unclear across the country following the crisis.

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