African social and political activist, Aisha Yesufu has dismissed rumours that she was slapped by men of the Nigerian Police on Saturday during an #EndSARS protest in Abuja.
According to Yesufu, security personnel in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) fired tear gas at demonstrators to disperse them, but she was glad she “gave them a piece of what I thought of their pathetic selves”.
Law reporters reports that Nigerian youths took to the streets in large numbers this week to protest against the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a controversial unit in the Nigeria Police Force.
#EndSARS has been the top hashtag worldwide in the last 24 hours, as protestors continue to demand SARS is disbanded.
After several allegations which include extortion and killings, many Nigerians are demanding a total ban of their operation, after previous efforts by the government to reform and reorganize the unit.
Nationwide protests across major cities in Nigeria were a culmination of weeks of anger and outcry online by the country’s young people over claims of harassment and extortion by SARS.
Reacting to the growing campaign, Yesufu who came to prominence for her role in speaking up for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 took to her known Twitter handle on Saturday to further express her displeasure with the Nigerian situation.
Good evening everyone.
I am okay. I refused to run. I walked with my fist high up. @PoliceNG were all shooting at me as I walked away. I came out of the fence they cowardly built around themselves and about 4 of them came at me at the junction throwing bottled water this time 😁 pic.twitter.com/r0AjnI0Osx— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) October 10, 2020