Grammy award-winning artist Beyoncé has lent her support to Nigerians amid the ongoing protests against police brutality.
The singer took to her Instagram account to announce that she “has been working on partnerships with youth organisations” to support protesters.
According to her, she was heartbroken after seeing the treatment meted out to the youth in the country.
The mother of three stressed that there has to be an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
“I am heartbroken to see the senseless brutality taking place in Nigeria. We have been working on partnerships with youth organisations to support those protesting for change,” she wrote.
Her comments come after protesters were allegedly shot by soldiers on Tuesday at Lekki toll gate in Lagos.
Beyoncé in her posts added that she is collaborating with some coalitions to provide emergency health care, food and shelter for protesters.
“We stand with you. Please visit Beyonce.com for a list of organizations to show your support. To our Nigerian sisters and brothers, we stand with you,” she stated.
About End SARS
The Nigerian population in the past weeks have taken to the streets and social media to protest the treatment meted out to them by the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) formed in 1992 to fight crime.
The SARS, in recent times, has been accused of police brutality, murders, profiling, extortion, making unlawful arrests, among others.
Their activities sparked the protest “End SARS” which went from an online campaign to a street demonstration.
Nigerians in other countries like Ghana and the UK also went to the offices of the Nigerian High Commissions to protest and call for the end of the SARS.
However, the Nigerian government in a bid to stop the protests deployed police to some areas which caused the “peaceful” protests to turn violent.
Meanwhile, about ten people, according to Amnesty International, have lost their lives in the early protests.
The human rights group told CNN police have used excessive force against unarmed protesters since the protests started on Thursday, October 8.
Although, the IGP had announced that SARS had been disbanded people soon returned to the streets to protest explaining that the police were only being sent to other areas.
Some Nigerians including celebrities called for the government to not only disband and redeploy but to also investigate and bring to book police that kept brutalising innocent citizens.
They also called for new reforms and an open forum with the people and government.
However, on Tuesday October 21 the military posted to Lekki tollbooth where some protesters had gathered “unarmed” opened fire on the citizens.
The bullets hit some of the protesters leaving some of them with injuries while others battle for their lives.
The government at a press conference on Wednesday stated that they had visited hospitals and only 10 people were injured and no person has lost their lives.
However, witnesses are sharing gory videos and pictures online insisting that some people did lose their lives.
Source: MyJoyOnline
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