After Initial Threat, Wike Bows To Pressure, Joins #EndSARS Protesters (Video)

The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has joined #EndSARS protesters in Port-Harcourt after he had initially banned residents of the state from protesting the brutality and extra-judicial actions committed by officials of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Naija News had reported earlier that Governor Wike banned all forms of protests in Rivers State and particularly, the #EndSARS protests currently rocking many states in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Paulinus Nsirim on Monday evening, the Rivers State Governor announced that no form of #EndSARS protest will be allowed in the state.

The Governor said the decision to ban the protests followed the announcement by the Inspector-General of Police that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has been dissolved. He, therefore, argued that since SARS has been dissolved, there is no need for the protests to continue.

Governor Wike said: “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,” Governor Wike had said.

However, after initial threat, Governor Wike bowed to pressure on Tuesday afternoon as he joined #EndSARS protesters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where he lamented while addressing the protesters that no state in Nigeria has suffered SARS brutality more than Rivers State, south-south Nigeria.

In a tweet after the protest, Wike said: “It is not only ending SARS, every Nigerian should support the total reform of the Police. We shouldn’t make a mistake, If we #EndSars as they have done the same police people would be used to form another body. That is what I have always supported and called for.”

It is not only ending SARS, every Nigerian should support the total reform of the Police.

We shouldn’t make a mistake, If we #EndSars as they have done the same police people would be used to form another body.

That is what I have always supported and called for. pic.twitter.com/pKhXk1d5QU

— Gov N E Wike Information. (@GovWike) October 13, 2020

Watch Wike Address #EndSARS protesters in Port Harcourt below…

#PortHarourtEndSARSProtest:

Gov. Wike came out to address Port Harcourt People on a peaceful protest to Brick House.#SARSMUSTENDNOW pic.twitter.com/Ky4vbwi6pv

— Port Harcourt People (@AskPHPeople) October 13, 2020