Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has reacted strongly to the alleged killing of a suspect by police officers in Effurum, Delta State, warning that Nigeria may be heading toward another wave of mass protests similar to the End SARS protests.
Sowore, in a statement circulating on social media, condemned what he described as continued police brutality and extrajudicial actions by security operatives. According to him, such incidents are not new, alleging that many officers involved in these acts are former members of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), who were never fully removed from the system.
He argued that the persistence of these officers within the police force has allowed a culture of abuse to continue unchecked. Sowore further claimed that authorities are aware of the individuals responsible for such actions and allegedly rely on them to carry out what he termed “dirty jobs.”
Reacting to the public outrage trailing the incident in Effurum, Sowore noted that the strong reactions from Nigerians reflect widespread anger against police brutality. He warned that if such incidents continue without accountability, it could trigger another round of nationwide protests, which he referred to as “EndSARS 2.0.”
He also expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the incident, suggesting that the outcome could have been worse if not for the existence of video evidence. According to him, the individuals responsible might have acted more aggressively if they had known they were being recorded.
