Rap artiste, Ruggedman, has apologised to Public Relations Officer (PRO), Zone 2 of the Nigeria Police, Dolapo Badmos, over his controversial #EndSARS campaign.
Ruggedman had on Wednesday shared a video on Wednesday in which he enlightens Nigerians on how to identify real policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The rapper had previously campaigned that the police unit should be scrapped over allegations of brutality and extortion among others.
Seizing upon the video, Assistant Police Commissioner Abayomi Shogunle, tweeted that Ruggedman has now joined those calling for SARS to be reformed rather than to be scrapped.
“Nigerian celebrity @RuggedyBaba endorse Federal SARS. The Abia State-born rapper today decamped from #EndSARS party and joined #ReformSARS party,” he wrote.
BREAKING NEWS: Nigerian celebrity @RuggedyBaba endorse Federal SARS.
The Abia State born rapper today decamped from #EndSARS party and joined #ReformSARS party.@PoliceNG_PCRRU@PoliceNG pic.twitter.com/mX0u274E7a— Abayomi Shogunle (@YomiShogunle) July 18, 2018
The post didn’t sit well with Ruggedman and he called out the officer in a now-deleted Instagram post, saying, “Officer Yomi Shogunle I have heard about how incompetent and dubious you are but this disgraceful act of yours takes the cake.
“This baseless and fabricated post of yours just goes to show you are a shameless liar and a disgrace to the Nigerian police force.
“I AM ALL FOR #endsars until the force is reformed and reorientated on how to treat people as the humans they are,” he wrote.
Reacting to being tagged in the rapper’s post, Badmos made no secret of her displeasure over his decision to tag her, considering he had stopped doing that for some time now.
She added that he should not sit on the fence, rather chose a side in the SARS controversy.
However, in a lengthy Instagram post on Thursday, Ruggedman reiterated his love and respect for the police officer, saying they remain partners in the campaign to rid the police of bad eggs and keep Nigerians safe.
“If you know how much I love and respect you, you will never think I will bring any negativity towards you.
“You are a no-nonsense taking person just like I am and that’s also one of the things I like about you.
“Just like you won’t take what is not right, I won’t too. Just like you speak up, I do too. I admit I was harsh on officer Shogunle, but I had every right to because it was out of anger.
“Accept my apology for anything I did to upset you, you remain my super cop and I miss our friendship,” he wrote.
The #EndSARS campaign began on social media to protest the activities of the police unit which has been accused of extortion, harassment, robbery, intimidation and extra-judicial killings.
