#EndSARS: Why Police May Arrest Lead Campaigner Soon

The lead campaigner for the Media outcry for scrapping of one department in the Nigerian Police, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Mr. Segun Awosanya is likely to be arrested soon as the Police finds #EndSARS campaign politically-laced hence, questionable.

In a telephone conversation with Premium Times, the police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood

Mr. Awosanya, a lead campaigner in the citizen-led #EndSARS initiative, was accused of hobnobbing with politicians in some of his pictures that police have seen online.

“When you see someone like that who regularly mingles with politicians now leading a campaign to scrap a critical department in the police, then you know his activities are not genuine”.

Mr. Moshood emailed a picture which Mr. Awosanya took with Speaker Yakubu Dogara and another one he took at a business forum as indicative of his political ties.

But he said the police was not accusing the Speaker of sponsoring Mr. Awosanya and other #EndSARS campaigners.

Mr. Awosanya claimed he took the picture with Mr. Dogara when his team submitted a petition for the scrapping of SARS to the Speaker in September.

The disclosure comes as #EndSARS campaign dominates discussion on social media for the fourth day.

Mr. Moshood however said the police respect the rights of Nigerians to express themselves online or offline, but that would not stop officers from investigating mischievous elements who cloak their agenda with popular causes.

“Our investigation does not mean we’re trying to infringe on peoples’ rights, but the quarters where some of the claims are coming from and those leading them should be looked into,” the spokesman maintained.

“Nigerians should reject any dubious attempt to paint the institution of police in a bad light,” the spokesperson said.

Mr. Awosanya, however, said he would not be intimidated.

“Our campaign is for SARS to be scrapped so that the killing, maiming, beating and robbing of the citizens can stop. We will remain resolute in that call no matter the antics deployed by the police.”

Mr. Awosanya said he was not ashamed to pose for pictures with politicians and wondered how that should be an issue at a time of nationwide outrage over the conduct of SARS personnel.

“They’re bringing up issues of pictures which I didn’t take yesterday to divert attention from issues being raised by over 100,000 Nigerians,” Mr. Awosanya said. “The excruciating facts are out there that demonstrate how vicious and uncivilised the conduct of SARS has been over the years.”

“Nigerians have a right to decide if they want to continue to tolerate the criminalities of SARS officers into the future,” he added.

The lead campaign added that a nationwide protest to further demand an immediate ban of SARS would go on next week as planned.