The Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has revealed his 25-year-old daughter had an encounter with operatives of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) which nearly cost her life.
Tweeting on Monday in support of the #EndSARS protests which have engulfed some parts of the country since last week, the Ooni said he was happy that Nigerian youths were finally standing up for their rights.
“I understand your plight, my 25 year old daughter had a nasty experience with SARS, almost losing her life,” he wrote.
“On her way to the airport, she was stopped and terribly ransacked and surrounded by fully armed plain clothes policemen in a bus, detained for close to 30 minutes of thorough questioning.
“Imagine a young female for that matter; all her belongings completely searched all because she was with a laptop on an official assignment from her office in Lagos. I can only imagine the countless ones that have lost their lives from such ordeals, may their souls rest in peace.”
Oba Ogunwusi appealed to the protesters to be peaceful “as anything outside of that will cause unnecessary havoc for all.”
The influential monarch said he would ensure that the protesters arrested are freed.
“To the men and women of the Nigerian police force, be assured that this movement is also for you, we know you are humans also and your reality is as a result of your environment,” he added.
“This movement demands better on your behalf and is aimed at pushing the government to do better for you and elevate your standard of living. Do not persecute your advocates. God bless Nigerian youths and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
