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Youths protest against SARS’ activities in Rivers State

By Ann Godwin (Port Harcourt)
27 July 2018   |   4:15 am
Youths in Rivers State yesterday took to the streets to protest against alleged threats and brutality by operatives of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on the people of the state. They frowned on the murder threat by the operatives to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Rivers State Governor on Social Media, Marshal…

Youths in Rivers State yesterday took to the streets to protest against alleged threats and brutality by operatives of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on the people of the state.

They frowned on the murder threat by the operatives to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Rivers State Governor on Social Media, Marshal Obuzor.

According a statement from Government House in Port Harcourt, SARS operatives cornered Obuzor last Monday, using machetes and iron rods to inflict severe injuries on him.

The statement added that SARS operatives, led by one Sergeant Clever Kporoko, inflicted injury on Obuzor’s left ear.

According to the statement, medical examinations by consultants at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital showed that Obuzor would require surgical operation in France to correct his ruptured ear.

Angered by the development, the youths gathered at the Port Harcourt City Local Council Secretariat yesterday carrying several placards, as they condemned SARS’ activities.

Also, the state chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has called for immediate investigations and prosecution of erring SARS operatives in the state.

While addressing the protesters, Obuzor said all Rivers indigenes have been affected directly or indirectly by the activities of SARS, adding that the nature of their attack on him showed that it has degenerated.

“They used machetes and rods to beat me and seized my phones in full public glare. They repeatedly threatened to kill me. They even threatened to kill the government official who tried to intervene during their assault on me.

“I was surprised that SARS has gotten to this stage where they don’t care that people are watching,” he said.

He pointed out that the petition to the Rivers Police Commissioner, Zaki Ahmed, demanded an end to SARS’ brutality in the state, saying enough is enough.

Rivers State Publicity Secretary of the NYCN, who represented the State President, Sara-Igbe Sukubo, charged the state police command to stop the illegal activities of SARS, noting that Rivers youths would no longer tolerate their criminal activities.

When contacted, the state police command said they would investigate the issue, assuring that any SARS operative found wanting would be made to face the full weight of the law.

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