Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji has blasted Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers for banning #EndSARS protest in the state.
Nigerians on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, woke up to the news of the protest ban in Rivers, when Paulinus Nsirim, Rivers Commissioner for Information, announced that the #EndSARS protest has been prohibited, alongside other forms of protest, in the state.
“The Rivers State Government hereby wishes to inform the general public that all forms of protests have been banned throughout the State. Therefore, all proposed protests under #EndSars Campaign are hereby prohibited,” the statement quoted Wike as saying.
As read in the statement, Wike took the decision to ban the #EndSARS protest following the dissolution of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the inspector-general of police, Mohammed Adamu.
“There is no need for any form of protest against a Unit of the Police Force that no longer exists,” the state governor added.
Following the #EndSARS ban in Rivers, the movie star who’s preferably referred to by her first name, said she’s not surprised with the governor’s reaction to people’s plights, adding that he’s a dictator/
“Your mustache says it all. You could have chosen to be any kind of leader you wanted. You chose to be a dictator. Do you have children? That’s a shame. LEADERS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE for every loss of innocent life in their State. #ENDSARSOPPRESSION #EndSarsNow,” she tweeted.
For some days now, protesters have been been agitating for the end of police brutality in Nigeria. As earlier reported on eelive.ng, a 22-year-old, Joshua Ambrose was attacked by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a development that triggered an outcry from members of the public.
Following the incident, Nigerians took to social media to enlist the extra-judicial killings, wanton arrests, and dispossession of properties through physical assault and other intimidation tactics that were often carried out by the notorious police unit.
Condemning the oppression from members of the police force, Nigerian celebrities like Wizkid, Davido, and Olu Jacobs, have expressed opinions that it was time to end the mayhem often perpetrated by the notorious police unit.
Aside from the Nigerian artistes, international celebrities like Lil Baby and Drake have added their voices to the call for the end to police brutality.