Yesterday the #EndSars campaign gathered steam after a video went viral where it was claimed that members of the Special police squad had killed a young man and made off with his car.
The video was made by two individuals who claimed to have witnessed the incident. They also appeared to be chasing the SARS officials.
That and similar reports of SARS brutality and extortion elsewhere led to the campaign on social media to scrap the notorious squad.
However Keyamo took to his verified Twitter page to announce that the said individual involved was alive.
He said: “I just spoke with both the Commissioner of Police, Delta State & the Area Commander in Ughelli where the unfortunate incident involving a young man & the Police took place yesterday.
“I also spoke with Ochuko, the victim’s brother. I was born, bred and raised in that same town
“All of them said the victim is alive & receiving treatment.”
SARS Was Not Involved
Keyamo also revealed that the police unit involved were not SARS. He disclosed that the police claimed the victim tried to escape from the SARS vehicle as he was about to be arrested.
“Whilst I totally condemn the extra-judicial killings by SARS & other Police outfits against defenseless citizens and call for comprehensive reforms and overhaul of the system, some facts of this case are as follows:
“(a) The outfit involved in this case is called Operation Delta Safe and not SARS (b) the victim was not shot as confirmed by his brother, but fell out of the Police vehicle when being taken to the station after arrest. The brother said he was pushed; the Police said he jumped”
The minister posted a picture, purportedly of the victim as he was being treated in the hospital.
“This is a picture of the victim in hospital this morning, showing injuries from the fall (c) the Police stopped to pick him up after the fall, but an angry mob had already gathered and the Police fled and left the victim (d) A Good Samaritan picked him & took him to hospital” Keyamo disclosed.
Festus also appealed to youths in the area to not take laws into their own hands.
“Finally, I wish to appeal to the youths in Ughelli not to resort to violence and/or destruction of lives and properties. I am on top of this matter and though the victim is alive, I will be urging the authorities to still investigate the conduct of the Police in this matter.”
