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Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has prohibited protests calling for the ban of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the state.
Following renewed protests across the country over reports of brutality, harassment and extrajudicial killings by SARS operatives, Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), had issued a directive on Sunday, disbanding the unit.
But the protests have continued, with activists insisting that more concrete steps must be taken on proscribing SARS, since similar directives have been given in the past.
However, in a statement issued on Monday night by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, Wike warned Rivers residents against embarking on #EndSARS protests.
According to the governor, there was no need for further protests since the SARS unit has been scrapped by the IGP.
The statement read in part: “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.”