As the peaceful protests and demonstrations against Police brutality, #ENDSARS passed the 8-day mark, the organizers put together Sunday services on protest grounds.
After a week of activities that included processions, speeches, candle night parade, prayer walks, Jumat prayers and vigils, #EndSARS protesters gathered on Sunday at the epicenter of the campaign, Lekki Tollgate, for service.
The service was conducted by Catholic Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki, after an earlier service was held at the church on Admiralty Way, Lekki and protesters had projected the live service from Daystar Christian Center.
The Lekki Tollgate service was led by Most Senior Pastor, Monsignor Pascal who charged protesters to keep the peace in demanding a change. He also charged them to pray to God for inspiration and depend on Him for guidance.
He also prayed that God touches the hearts of all those in the corridors of power and that they effect the right changes. Holy communion was served after the sermon.
At another protest ground, Leke Adeboye, son of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, also led an #EndSARS service at the Lagos State Government House in Alausa, Ikeja.
At the service attended mostly by Christians, among youths demanding an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings in the country, Leke urged his colleagues to be ready to take over the leadership of the nation.
The pastor’s son also prayed to God to end all the problems of the country. Leke wore a black top branded; ‘My Bible says These Are End Times, We Starting With #EndSARS’.
He said:
“This change that we have come for, let it be real change in Jesus name. This reformation, let it be real reformation in Jesus name. Father, end all the ‘radarada’ in our lives in Jesus’ name.
End all the ‘radarada’ in this nation in Jesus’ name. And Lord, please prepare us to be able to take over, to be able to take charge in Jesus’ name.
“This is just the beginning of the first chapter. As we are writing the other chapters, please write it with us in Jesus’ name. Soro soke, ko se amin.”
The protests, which initially started as an online movement years ago but had continued to occur after the issue was hardly addressed properly by the country’s leaders.
The protests picked up steam again when there was an increase in the spate of extrajudicial killings, robbery, kidnapping and other crimes being perpetrated by members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), and the youths decided they had had enough.
There have been physical peaceful demonstrations all across Nigeria by the youths as well as Nigerian diaspora citizens and concerned members of the international community.
The protests are set to continue until reasonable steps are put in place to address the demands being made.