The killing of Kolade Johnson, a young man in the Mangoro/Onipetesi of Lagos, by a stray bullet from some men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has left many Nigerians outraged.
According to witnesses, Johnson was watching a football match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in a viewing centre on Sunday when he was hit by the bullet.
An account by The Punch said that Johnson had challenged the SARS men who attempted to arrest his friend, which caused one of the SARS operatives to shoot him.
Although he was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, the victim was confirmed dead on arrival by doctors.
The news of his death caused some irate youths to block the Mangoro/Onipetesi axis of the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway on Sunday evening.
Some Nigerians have however taken to social media to call for an end to indiscriminate killings by SARS operatives.
Read comments monitored on Twitter:
My Kaylo Boy is gone! My 'Lion' … my chef… my precious Kolade Johnson… I'm so sorry it ended this way… I'm sorry i wasn't there to stop the bleeding… I'm sorry the government failed you… I'm sorry 💔#EndSARS pic.twitter.com/N0wsMQrYUK
— Stephañy (@stefanygeorge) March 31, 2019
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Whichever of the policeman that killed Kolade Johnson,he would also die a miserable death.
To every other policeman extorting innocent citizens in this country,if you all don't repent,untimely death would visit you as well.#ENDSARS #EndSACS #EndPolicebrutality #ReformPoliceNG
— Tosin Olugbenga (@TosinOlugbenga) April 1, 2019
When are we going to get it right? When are the trigger lovers and criminals all in the name of police going to leave us alone? Another young potential man gone.. Rest In Peace Kolade Johnson Your killers will never go unpunished @segalink @PoliceNG @iCypha @othakiparry pic.twitter.com/kf0rSZRzGf
— NOWAMAGBE (@IkAlwayscare) March 31, 2019
This is Kolade Johnson. A youth like you and me. His life was ended yesterday by the rouge operatives, SARS.
His crime? Being a Nigerian. The government failed him. Nigeria failed him. Shall we wait for the rot to continue? No. Time to act is NOW.#EndSARS #ENDPOLICEBRUTALITY pic.twitter.com/3eRFGitFcT
— тяανєℓєя3468 🏳️🌈 (@gerradcc) April 1, 2019
I am just laying on my bed right now thinking of how this young innocent man “Kolade Johnson” was killed on the 31st of March 2018 by officers of the SARS for no reason, only son ( child ) of he’s parents, also a father to a small baby pic.twitter.com/cO0LaK4G9Q
— BABA-70 (@Desmondkobi) April 1, 2019
I can't even contain my anger. Waking up to the news of the death of Kolade Johnson, a young man cut down in his prime by dome trigger-happy half-baked SARS operative.
Question is: who's next? Who else will go out and not make it back home because of SARS? #ENDSARS pic.twitter.com/dINQdRjIkV
— Eniobanké Blaise-Davies (@BlueZeena) April 1, 2019
The killing of Kolade Johnson by evil men of SARS should unite us; every young Nigerian, every region should speak up now, let's #EndSARS
— Somto Onuchukwu (@chosensomto) April 1, 2019
Nigeria is not just killing the hopes and dreams of young people.
It's actually killing young people.
Fuck SARS.
Rest in peace Kolade Johnson.
— Listen Africa! 🇳🇬 (@ExcelJoab) April 1, 2019
This is the guy SARS killed today , Kolade JOHNSON ! Rest In Peace ! May your Spirit Hunt your killers and ruin their entire Families .#Endsars pic.twitter.com/12GiyN1Vea
— Oluwa Tobi (@TobiDaGreatest) March 31, 2019
RIP Kolade Johnson aka KayLow #KLOW aka Don Styles. Just this morning we still spoke about how you want to send money for your Son Jason. Gentle warrior, funny Somebody and a great friend. Your killers won’t go free. #Endsars #EndSARS #EndSACS #EndSAKS #Justice4Kola pic.twitter.com/nfnZo2AeTF
— YGF #BowNetworks (@YGodfada) April 1, 2019
What the hell is going on in this country the people that are paid to protect you are the same people killing you R.I.P Kolade Johnson #EndSarz#EndPolicebrutality pic.twitter.com/NGqy5N8nNx
— TeeMoney (@adepojutunde949) April 1, 2019
Kolade Johnson deserves justice. He did nothing wrong, he's a family man, he is a citizen of Nigeria, he only left his house to watch football. 😢😢
He never returned to his family because he was shot by SARS!#EndPolicebrutality #ENDSARS 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/6L3p9fdSAE
— Fjayyy 👑 (@iam_fjay) April 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/DemGoTyre/status/1112648939709313024
We are all Kolade Johnson. No one is safe. @segalink @Naijavote
This is how I wanna contribute to this movement. #EndSARS #EndPolicebrutality #EndSACS #EndSAKS #ReformPoliceNG pic.twitter.com/xWtbgF71Ym
— ً (@pictaler) April 1, 2019