SARS Turns Special Anti-People’s Squad?

Nigeria is not left out of the benefits of social media in the influence of government policies.

This is evident in the ongoing protest against a unit of the Nigerian Police Force with the various hashtags such as #EndSars #EndSarsNow #EndPoliceBrutality that has taken over the social media space.

Special Anti-Robbery Squad is a department in the Nigerian Police Force created some years back by former Commissioner of Police, Simeon Danladi Midenda, to tackle the incessant armed robbery and other forms of crime.

However, Special Anti-Robbery Squad as they are fondly called has lost its mandate and has evolved from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad to Special Anti-People’s Squad.

In 2016, Segun Awosanya a Human Rights activist popularly known as  “Segalink” on twitter, started the #EndSARS campaign on social media in protest against police brutality in the country.

The #EndSARS movement garnered momentum online and led to the President Buhari-led administration ordering an overhaul of Special Anti-Robbery Squad in 2018.

Also, the vice-president ordered an immediate reform of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, citing the widespread public outcry against their conduct, as the basis for the order. He also directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to set up a judicial panel to investigate SARS alleged unlawful activities.

Hours later after the directive, the police authority announced a list of reform measures aimed at increasing Special Anti-Robbery Squad public accountability for its actions.

The measures include the change of name from Special Anti-Robbery Squad to Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), the appointment of high-ranking police officers to supervise the operation of FSARS and the restriction of FSARS operations to the prevention of armed robbery and kidnapping.

Despite the promises of reform and accountability for violations, the F-SARS officers continue to subject detainees in their custody to torture and other forms of ill-treatment with total impunity.

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According to a report by the human rights group Amnesty International, there have been at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial execution by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad within the police between January 2017 and May 2020.

Also, a report by SBM Intelligence, Nigeria’s leading geopolitical intelligence firm, shows major incidents, harassment and extortion that has been carried out by men of the SARS in the last 18 months. They also expressed their doubt on the possibility of reforming Special Anti-Robbery Squad without reforming the Nigerian Police Force.

Just like SBM Intelligence, Amnesty International believes that the ongoing impunity by F-SARS officers in violating human rights only points to the decadent in policing practices and the absence of an effective police accountability system.

On October 4, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu in his usual manner, banned the personnel of the F-SARS and other ‘Tactical Squads’ of the Force from operating on Nigerian roads.

The ban came on the heels of cries by Nigerians online who were calling for the abolishment of the police unit. The statement was not enough to calm frail nerves because Nigerians recall such statements has been issued in the past and the problem still persists.

Just like the Occupy Nigeria protest that took place in 2012, Nigerians are united to fight a common enemy in Special Anti-Robbery Squad. This shows strongly the power of unity and what we can achieve when we come together to fight for a common course.

Reference