Address Nigerians, Senate tells Buhari as soldiers disperse Abuja protesters

The Senate has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address the nation now in view tension generated by the over 10 days of protests across the country by youths demanding good governance and an end to police brutality.

The advice came as soldiers stormed Kubwa area of Abuja in three trucks and reportedly fired several gunshots in the air to disperse protesters who were regrouping for the day’s street protest.

Apart from Abuja, the protests have led to violence in Lagos and Edo States among others as hoodlums are said to have hijacked the peaceful agitation to raze many police stations, attack innocent people and cause commotion in the affected cities.

Policemen and soldiers have been deployed around the Aso Rock gate of the presidential villa as armed thugs had earlier converged on the Eagle Square located at the Three-Arm Zone of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Already, governors of Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Oyo and Ekiti states have declared 24-hour curfew in their states to avert a total breakdown of law and order. But the stay-at-home order has not completely deterred the #EndSARS protesters from their street demonstration.

Apart from Buhari addressing Nigerians to douse tension, the Senate also asked the police to offer protection for the #EndSARS protesters wherever they might be engaged in peaceful demonstration.

Senator Biodun Olujimi’s point of order, titled, ‘#EndSARS: The need for a comprehensive reform’ prompted the Senate’s resolution for Buhari to personally speak up on the issue immediately.

The senators, however pleaded with the protesters to stop their street protests and allow the Federal Government to address their demands.

They also asked the President to urgently set up a judicial panel of enquiry comprising eminent Nigerians to identify those notorious SARS operatives for immediate arrest and prosecution.

Meanwhile, there was tension in the Sokale and FO1 areas of Kubwa, Abuja on Tuesday morning following as soldiers fired gunshots in the air to disperse some #EndSARS protesters who had gathered to begin the day’s protest.

The protesters had barricaded the Sokale roundabout area and Winners road in readiness for the protest when the soldiers arrived at the place in three trucks.

Hoodlums also took over some parts of the Apo Mechanic village and reportedly attacked motorists and attempted to loot some shops in the area.