Nigerians, with one voice, have condemned the killing of Kolade Johnson by operatives of SARS.
Recall that Johnson was shot on Sunday, March, 31 by SARS officials who fled the scene after the act.
The incident occurred when an unmarked commercial bus visited Mangoro/Onipetesi community in Lagos, Nigeria in search of youths dressed wildly and with dreadlocks.
In an attempt to disperse a crowd which had gathered during the raid, one of the police operatives shot his gun and a stray bullet killed Johnson, who was trying to leave the scene after watching English Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham.
Nigerians from all walks of have raised their voices in condemnation of the dastardly act.
Here are some of the reactions:
“Being young is NOT a crime. Having dreadlocks is NOT a crime.
Sagging your jeans is NOT a crime.
Having tattoos and piercings is NOT a crime.
The big crime is the police harassing and killing the innocent youth they are paid to protect, and nobody stopping them. #EndSARS” – @DrJoeAbah
“SARS can just decide to walk the streets of this country, kill anybody and get away with it? Are you freaking kidding me? What the hell is going on? How is this a country…that has a government?
#endsars #justiceforkola” – @AdesuaEtomiW
“If the death of Kolade Johnson does not trigger a process that will usher in the much needed overhaul of the Nigerian Police Force, then it will only be appropriate to give up on this country because what happened yesterday, could have been to anyone.
Me, you, anyone! #EndSARS” – @omoGbajaBiamila
“The murderers of Kolade Johnson must not go unpunished. #EndPoliceBrutality and incessant killings by the police.” – @MrAbuSidiq
Olubankole Wellington (Banky W), Musician and MDP House of Representative candidate for Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State also weighed into the situation by calling out the leaders to take action. He has also offered to help the deceased’s family.
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“@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.
We’re going to track down Kolade’s family, pray with them and raise money to assist them through this terrible tragedy. We hope that our leaders will use this opportunity to ACTUALLY show that they care about our lives and wellbeing, by tracking down the reckless officers responsible for this murder and bringing them to justice for their vicious crime.
We will not let this go. Kolade was innocent and did not deserve to die. Kolade could have been anyone of us. Please show us that you care about us. Please.
#JusticeForKolade
PS: Anyone who has the contact details of Kolade’s wife and/or Mom, please DM @theofficialeme_ and myself. We must take care of ourselves with or without our Government.” – @bankywellington
“#EndSARS
#EndSARS
#EndSARS
Maybe we all need the right to bear arms in this country….
If it’s not a driver getting bloodied by some policeman cos of N100 naira, it will be the life of an innocent youth cut short by SARS!!!” – @KateHenshaw
“The killing of Kolade Johnson by evil men of SARS should unite us; every young Nigerian, every region should speak up now, let’s #EndSARS” – @chosensomto
