Governor Nyesom Wike has banned all forms of protests, specifically the #EndSARS demonstrations, in Nigeria’s Rivers State.
Wike’s directive was contained in a statement on Monday night by his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim.
Youths across Nigeria, including Rivers State, have taken to the streets since last Thursday to demonstrate against the brutality of a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The unit has since been disbanded by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, but the protests continued with demonstrators demanding amongst other things, a total overhaul of the police force and the release of all arrested protesters.
Wike, in the statement, explained that there was no need for any form of demonstration since the IGP had disbanded SARS.
The statement read, “The Rivers State Government hereby wish 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.
“Government took this decision because the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had already scrapped the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
“Therefore, there is no need for any form of protest against a Unit of the Police Force that no longer exists.
“Parents and guardians are therefore advised to ensure that their children or wards do not violate this order.
“Law enforcement agencies are also directed to ensure that the ban is enforced and that violators are brought to book.”