According to the bishops, SARS stands accused of “extra-judicial killings, unlawful arrests, profiling of youths as criminals, the invasion of their privacy by searching phones and laptops without any warrant or any just cause, and the incarceration of many of the youths in the SARS custody without trial”.

In a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, its president, Archbishop Obiora Akubeze of Benin, wrote: “There is hardly any Nigerian who has not directly or indirectly encountered the crude and inhuman manner [in which] the SARS officials deal with citizens of this country.”

The archbishop added: “We unequivocally add our voice to those of our youths and that of every well-meaning Nigerian to condemn the excesses and the horrible operations of this police unit and the bad omen they portend to our democracy.”

Despite the peaceful protest, soldiers opened fire on protesters in Lagos’ Lekki district on Tuesday, hitting at least two people.

Source: ACNuk