End Sars Protest: John Ogu calls on players to boycott AFCON Qualifier Vs Sierra Leone

Nigeria midfielder John Ogu has called for a boycott of their upcoming games to protest police brutality amid ongoing violence in the commercial capital Lagos, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Nigerians have been demonstrating nationwide for weeks against a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), that rights groups had for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture and murders. The unit was disbanded on October 11 but the protests have persisted and rights group Amnesty International said soldiers and police killed at least 12 people in Lekki and Alausa. The Super Eagles are scheduled to take on the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone twice next month and Ogu believes boycotting the games would be a price worth paying even if the country failed to make it to 2021 AFCON in Cameroon. “What is the point in representing the country if this is what the politicians, the people we’re representing, can do to us?” Ogu told the World Football show on BBC World Service radio. “I feel like this is the best thing to do right now until they get back to their senses and listen to us. “We want a good government, the police brutality to stop, we want the Sars to stop, we want the killings to stop, we want good laws, we want job opportunities. It’s just crazy. “I believe most of my colleagues understand where I am coming from, I wish we can do this. There are games coming up and if we boycott these games I’m sure they will know we’ve made a statement. “I haven’t really spoken to any of my team-mates about this. They feel for the people here, their loved ones, those that have died. I’m sure the players are aware.”