#EndSars: Falz, Patoranking, Banky W, others decry wanton police killings

By Pascal Oparada

Social Media/Tech Reporter

The death on Sunday of a football fan, Kolade Johnson, in the hands of Nigerian policemen in Lagos has elicited an outcry from Nigerian celebrities.

They decried the reckless arrests and killings of innocent Nigerians by the police, especially by men of the Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Musician turned-politician in a lengthy Instagram post said Nigerians are tired of police brutality and not of the perpetrators being brought to book by the authorities.

“This post is for our leaders: @muhammadubuhari @profosinbajo @akinwunmiambode, @jidesanwoolu, @aleeygiwa… Dear Sirs, Kolade Johnson, an innocent, young citizen of Nigeria is dead. He was the only son of a widow, a husband and father. His only crime was being in the right place at the wrong time… watching a football match when SARS operatives who allegedly came to arrest someone, started shooting sporadically. Kolade is not the first innocent victim of reckless behaviour by SARS operatives, and he will almost certainly not be the last. It is sickening, frustrating, and unfair.

“We are tired of hearing about victims of police brutality, but never hearing about the criminal, reckless police officers being brought to justice. We are tired of screaming and tweeting #ENDSARS while our innocent young people are being extorted, bullied, maimed and killed by the very same officers who are meant to protect them. And we are tired of our leaders remaining silent, incident after incident,” he wrote.

The rapper, Falz said Nigerian police is abruptly ending the dreams of young Nigerians. He asked how many more lives would be lost before action is taken by the authorities.

Pop singer, Patoranking said Johnson was killed unlawfully and should be given justice.