Renown police officer Abayomi Ekundayo, who is popularly known as Yomi SARS has reacted to the claims that he supports the #EndSARS call by Nigerians on social media.
Abayomi who now associates with Nigerian hip-hop artists as part of his pursuit of a career in music, became the center of discussion after he was filmed showing gestures which suggested that he wanted the Anti-robbery section to be scrapped.
While explaining his original intent in the video to Punch, Abayomi insisted that he would never say negative things about the Nigeria Police Force in the public, no matter what.
He stated, “Yes, I saw the post but there was no time I said end SARS. When I was about to leave a show in Surulere, Lagos, last Sunday, Zlatan Ibile saw me and started shouting ‘End SARS’. He was obviously joking while recording it. I then asked why he was shouting ‘End SARS’. That was what happened.”
He equally expressed his thought on the implications that such misunderstanding may cause. Abayomi affirmed that he didn’t feel threatened as the video did not prove anything.
He said, “The video is nothing. If it was an issue, I wouldn’t have allowed him to post it. Captions by bloggers made it look like I wanted to sabotage where I eat from. If SARS is ended, who will protect the people? I wish all policemen are social media savvy like me. I am sure if they see the killings on social media, they will be more cautious while discharging their duties.”
When he was asked whether intoxication could have led to his gestures in the video, Yomi SARS quickly explained that he had stopped taking alcohol four years ago.
He stressed, “Nobody has called me from the police authorities to explain myself. I don’t drink. The last time I took alcohol was four years ago. In the video, did you see me holding any drink?”
On his life outside the force, Yomi stated, “I don’t care much about what people say to me on social media. I’ve said it several times that I don’t work with SARS anymore. I know my fans and my fans still show me love. People have the right to protest if something terrible happens. But as a policeman, I have to obey orders. I am for the people and the police because I am a singer and a policeman. If the police authorities had called me to explain myself, it would be an opportunity for me to suggest a way out of this issue between the force and the people.”
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