President Muhammadu Buhari says all those responsible for misconduct or wrongful acts by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), will be brought to justice.

The president stated this on Monday in Abuja at the launch of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme (P-YES), aimed at creating 774,000 jobs across the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country.

Buhari also said the disbandment of the SARS, was the first step to extensive police reforms by his administration.

“I will like to use this opportunity to say a word on the recent genuine concerns and agitations by Nigerians about the excessive use of force and in some cases extra-judicial killings and wrongful conduct of the men of the Nigerian Police Force.

“The disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reforms in order to ensure that the primary duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of lives and livelihood of our people.

“We will also ensure that all those responsible for misconduct or wrongful acts are brought to justice.

“We deeply regret the loss of life of the young man in Oyo State during the recent demonstrations.

“I have directed that the circumstances of his death should be thoroughly investigated.

“Meanwhile, it is important to recognise that the vast majority of men and women of the police force are hardworking and diligent in performing their duties.

“The few bad eggs should not be allowed to tarnish the image and reputation of the force.”

On the empowerment programme, the president restated his administration’s commitment to youth development and poverty alleviation.

He pledged that the Federal Government policies of social protection and people empowerment would continue on track, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

The president, who described P-YES as a cornerstone of his administration’s social and economic development strategies, said it was part of the overall policy of ensuring that 100 million Nigerians were lifted out of poverty in ten years.

“The P-YES is also part of the plan that we adopted in 2016 in which we empowered 100 youths from each of the 774 Local Government Areas with the necessary tools to acquire skills and establish small businesses.

“Given the success of that initiative, we are now committed to creating 774,000 jobs across all the LGAs, through the P-YES programme,” he said.

Buhari, who took a tour of P-YES tools and equipment displayed at the forecourt of Presidential Villa, expressed delight that the materials showcased represent the fruits of the initiatives embarked upon by his administration in 2016.

“All the tools, machines and equipment that are exhibited here, are products of the efforts of these empowered youth entrepreneurs.

“I note with particular pleasure that they were all fabricated in Nigeria by Nigerian youths using locally sourced materials. This is a wonderful and uplifting achievement.

“As an entrepreneurship empowerment project, the P-YES programme aims to address the needs of unskilled and less educated youth.

“It targets key areas of activities that are of practical importance and are essential to every aspect of our economy.

“These include areas such as agriculture and food processing, restaurant and catering, tailoring and fashion design, technical skills such as in the Information and Communications Technology sector, artisanship, welding, carpentry and joinery, other small businesses and activities associated with the micro-economic sector of this economy,” he said.

The president also called on State Governments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to factor the P-YES into their programmes to assist the youth realise their potentials in their chosen fields.

He urged local and foreign private sector operators in Nigeria to also contribute their share to the expansion of this programme through channelling their corporate social responsibility efforts towards skills acquisition, creation of start-ups, and other intervention measures.

Buhari declared that the expansion of the P-YES would now be vigorously pursued, adding that more resources would be committed to the achievement of its goals and objectives towards youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development.

He commended the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Students Affairs, under Nasiru Adhama, for driving the P-YES programme in accordance with the mandates prescribed for the office and the programme.

He expressed confidence that the programme being supervised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation would make significant difference.

In his remarks, Adhama assured the President that as achieved in the pilot phase of the programme the selection of beneficiaries in the full-scale P-YES scheme would be done with the utmost transparency and credibility.

He added that equal opportunities would be observed in the delivery of equipment, tools and machines to all States and Local Government Areas.

The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State and Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi were among the personalities that witnessed the launch of the P-YES scheme.

Buhari on Monday, addressed the nation for the first time amid the ongoing nationwide protests against the brutality and extrajudicial killings by men of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.

In the about two-minute broadcast uploaded on his verified Twitter handle, @MBuhari, the President said the disbandment of the police unit was a first step to “extensive police reforms”.

The President said officials of the disbanded team found to be responsible for wrongful acts would be brought to justice.

Buhari also said he had ordered a probe into the killing of a young man in Oyo State during the recent protests.

He said, “I will like to use this opportunity to say a word on the recent genuine concerns and agitations by Nigerians about the excessive use of force and in some cases extra-judicial killings and wrongful conduct of the men of the Nigerian Police Force.

“The disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reforms in order to ensure that the primary duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of lives and livelihood of our people.

“We will also ensure that all those responsible for misconduct or wrongful acts are brought to justice.

“We deeply regret the loss of life of the young man in Oyo State during the recent demonstrations.

“I have directed that the circumstances of his death should be thoroughly investigated.

“Meanwhile, it is important to recognise that the vast majority of men and women of the police force are hardworking and diligent in performing their duties.

“The few bad eggs should not be allowed to tarnish the image and reputation of the force.”

Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has endorsed the ongoing protest against brutality and extortion by Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives.

Ogunwusi said on Twitter that his 25-year-old daughter once had a nasty experience with SARS operatives that almost cost her life.

The monarch, therefore, stated that he was happy that the youths of Nigeria were finally standing up for their rights.

Tweeting through his handle, @OoniAdimulaIfe, he said, “I understand your plight, my 25-year-old daughter had a nasty experience with SARS, almost losing her life. 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.

“I assure you that this is the beginning of greater things to come in Nigeria. I implore you to demand more, but plead with you to do so in a peaceful manner, as anything outside of that will cause unnecessary havoc for all.”

The monarch said he was aware that some protesters had been unjustly arrested by the police.

He said he would do everything to ensure that they are freed.

Ogunwusi advised the police to understand that the protests would also improve the welfare of men and women of the Force and asked them to see it as such.

The monarch stated, “I have been informed of many innocent souls that were arrested and currently being detained, be rest assured that I am pursuing the matter and they will be set free.

“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.

“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.”

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appealed to youths protesting police brutality and extortion in the state to suspend their action for 24 hours.

This is as the governor said he identified with the ongoing protests against the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The Governor had on Monday addressed the protesters in Lekki where crowds of youths blocked the expressway.

He urged them to be decorous and peaceful while expressing their grievances against the excessive use of force by SARS.

The governor told the demonstrators that their protest was legitimate, but pleaded with them not to block the roads.

Sanwo-Olu said he spoke with the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, on Monday to outline the position of the Lagos State Government on police reforms, adding that he will visit the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday (tomorrow) to present the demands of Lagos youths on the issues.

He said, “I want to appeal to the protesters to take a break from protesting tomorrow. Tempers are at the highest on all sides at this time and while we work to prevent escalation, the safety of our residents is paramount. I speak not just as a governor, but as a father, brother and son.

“The safety of everyone involved in peaceful protests across Lagos is important and communicating with the Commissioner of Police, this is what we want to guarantee on all sides. Tomorrow, I will be meeting with the President.

“Your voice has been heard clearly and a clear pronouncement has been made on the activities of SARS. The operation has been dissolved by the police leadership and just a moment ago, Mr. President addressed the nation on the issues you have raised.

“The President has said all SARS officers that are involved in the killing of innocent people and engaging in human rights abuses will be brought to justice.

“My stance on this #EndSARS is unmistakable and I have told you that we identify with this protest because you have legitimate concerns. I am saying it again here that this protest is in good faith. But, we must not be unruly when going out on a protest like this. We want you to be peaceful and decorous in expressing yourselves.”

Inspector-General General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, says the training of a new police unit to replace the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad will commence next week.

He promised to investigate all cases of brutality by SARS operatives and bring the perpetrators to book.

Adamu spoke when popular musician, David Adeleke aka Davido, visited him in office on Monday over the ongoing #EndSARS protests.

He said with SARS being disbanded, there was need to set up a new structure to carry out the duties of the defunct police unit which is fighting violent crimes.

He said the new outfit would be intelligence-driven, properly trained and only act on occasions that required their attention.

He said the unit would be made up of fresh personnel with a new orientation and not officers from the scrapped unit.

According to the police boss, opportunities would be created for members of the public to make inputs into the formation of the new unit.

Adamu called for calm, noting that Davido‘s visit to talk about the issue was the best way to deal with the current problem.

Adamu stated, “We just disbanded (SARS) yesterday (Sunday), so protesters should calm down and give us time to fix the problem. The general public will be part of the process of getting a new outfit.

“I’m talking to you so, I will keep talking to many others and get civil societies involved and get their input towards the new unit.”

He said the issue of compensation to the families of those wronged by SARS would be addressed when investigations were concluded.

“We want justice to be done and justice will be done,” he said.

He said officers of the disbanded unit would be retrained and given other responsibilities in the Force, but would not be reabsorbed into the new outfit.

“We admit the trust gap is wide but we will work to bridge that gap,” Adamu assured.

Davido demanded the immediate release of all arrested protesters and also called for justice and compensation for the victims of SARS brutality.

Personal Assistant to the President on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, on Monday said Executive Order was not needed to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force as being demanded by protesters.

Ahmad made the clarification in a message he posted on his verified twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had on Sunday bowed to pressure and disbanded the squad after days of public outcry and nationwide protests.

But #EndSARS campaigners said they would not back down, insisting that the street rallies would continue until the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), issued an Executive Order scrapping the unit.

The protests continued across the country on Monday despite Adamu’s announcement.

But Ahmad said SARS was not created by any Executive Order or legislative act.

He said the IGP was the one that has the authority to disband the squad and he had done so.

He said, “The defunct SARS was a unit of the Police, it was an administrative creation of the IG of Police, not created by any executive order or legislative act.

“We actually don’t need an executive order to fully disband the unit when the IGP with full authority has already disbanded it.”