Former Senator Shehu Sani has called on President Bola Tinubu to grant a presidential pardon to EndSARS protesters who were detained under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Shehu Sani described President Tinubu as the “father of protest” in Nigeria, recalling how he sponsored protests in the country. He urged the president to release the detained protesters, who are following in his footsteps.
According to Amnesty International, about 15 EndSARS protesters are still in detention across the country. Shehu Sani made the plea during a dinner at the presidential villa, acknowledging President Tinubu’s role in mentoring and funding protests against military dictatorship. He emphasized that the protesters are his “children and grandchildren” and deserve pardon.
The EndSARS protest in October 2020 was a nationwide agitation against police brutality and bad governance, leading to the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The protests resulted in the arrest of many protesters, with some still in detention. President Tinubu has been urged to use his presidential powers to grant freedom to these detained protesters.
