#EndSARS: Sovereignty Belongs To The People, Rights Group Pokes FG

Responding to the ongoing protests by young people across major cities in the country to end the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, Global Rights Nigeria, an NGO, has stated that sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria.
In a statement delivered by its Executive Director, Mrs Abiodun Baiyewu, yesterday, the rights group charged the Federal Government to listen to citizens and ensure that their fundamental rights are not thwarted.
The executive director called for an end to impunity in the country, saying that the rule of law must prevail and victimisation and suppression of citizens by security personnel be put to an end.
According to her, the government must fulfil its constitutional mandate of ensuring the security and welfare of the people through its organs, particularly the security forces, noting that an urgent but holistic reform and overhauling of the police force is more important than ever.
“When President Buhari ran for his first term as civilian president in March, 2015, one of the core reasons why many citizens voted for him was his promise to put an end to insecurity in Nigeria. Nigeria was confronted with what it considered at that time to be its worst security crisis particularly in the North-East of the country.
“Pockets of violence were also starting to spring up in other parts of the country. Communities and individuals feared for their lives, they feared for their country. They stepped to the ballot and voted with their thumbs. They wanted a positive change”, she stated.
“Fast forward to October, 2020, citizens have spontaneously taken to the streets to decry their insecurity in what is now known as the #EndSARS movement”.