Different interest groups under the aegis of Concerned Men and Women Association of Nigeria (CMWAN) have shut down the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, appealing to the conscience of Nigerians to stop the #endSARS campaign, which has recently gone viral.

The crowd gathered at the Eagle Square on Monday before proceeding to the Nigeria Police Force headquarters, with placards displaying different messages bothering on how the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) must be made reformed but not scrapped as some sections of Nigerians are calling for.

Few of the coordinators of the groups, in their remarks, maintained that rather than criticising SARS, Nigerians should allow the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to see to its reformation.

They said: “Let us leave the IGP to do his job and reform it. What we should do is, give him the needed patriotic support. It is not supposed to be scrapped because we don’t have to look at the other side of it. We are begging Nigerians. They are the ones protecting us in the rural areas. SARS must continue in this country but stop abusing its power.”

They added that the “Police has listening ears and that is why we are here. This is not politically motivated. We are only trying to balancing the situation”.

While addressing the crowd at the Force Headquarters, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Gwuazu expressed happiness at the reaction of public and communities towards towards the issue he described as a way of reaches sing the SARS, saying that “Nigerians need to understand the fact that the IGP is practically moving to reorganise it, due to complaints on abuse of rights”.

According to him, “The IGP has given directive that SARS must be reorganised. And I can tell you that the SARS will be branded in such a way that they will be there for all Nigerians because we will supervise them closely and standard operational procedure will be given to them.”

He asked those whose rights have, in one way or the other, been abused to come up and make complaints and assured that Nigeria Police will pursue it to get justice at the end of everything. “We will address all complaints on SARS from division to division and from station to station,” he added.

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