By Maeti Udeh
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was created in Lagos, Nigeria in 1992 as a division of the Nigerian Police Force. Their purpose was to help tackle the violent crime and increasing gang activity riddling the streets. The original squad was that of 15 officers, who rode around in unmarked busses often wearing civilian clothes. Through anonymity, the force hoped to blend in with citizens for a better chance of catching criminals. And that they did, the squad has been associated with successful missions.
However, as time went, the squad grew, and rogue officers began to abuse their power and abuse the citizens they were supposed to protect. The anonymity that was supposed to help bring down the gangs and violent crime has backfired. In a cruel sense of irony, they have now become the terrorizers. There have been reports and videos of the brutality SARS has inflicted on its citizens.
A protestor making her voice heard to
End SARS
Protestors in Ikeja, Nigeria.Credit…Pius
Utomi Ekpei/Agence France-Presse
— Getty Images
WizKid and other Nigerian celebrities have
supported calls to end SARS
Protestors with Nigerian flag written “Ends
SARS Now” in Lagos, Nigeria
The call to disband the rogue police division has been singing through the streets for awhile, the hashtag “EndSARS,” has been circulating since 2018. The momentum picked up again when a video was released showcasing two men being pulled out of a hotel by officers of SARS, one being fatally shot. It sparked outrage and people began sharing their own stories of brutality at the hands of police officers.
These officers are known to stop, search, and harass anyone that they deem suspicious based on the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, hairstyle, and so on. This includes demanding a civilian to unlock their phone so they can go through it or demanding them to withdraw money from the ATM. Some of those who have chosen to resist or not comply with their demands have been brutalized and killed.
Protestors have now taken to the streets, and chaos has ensued. Mistreatment of protestors have become yet another problem to add to the already growing list of reasons why this force should be disintegrated. Some protestors have been kidnapped by officers, others have been tear gassed, shot at, and run over with vehicles. Over the past four years, the Nigerian government has “disbanded” this force four times.
“Protesters say they won’t be satisfied until the president issues an executive order and until clear action is taken not just to disband SARS but to address broader problems with the police. Their demands include psychological evaluations for reassigned SARS officers, and compensation for victims of police violence. They are also pushing for better pay for police officers to reduce the financial exploitation of citizens,” (New York Times). The Special Anti-Robbery Squad is only part of the larger issue. The disbandment will encourage accountability, responsibility for human rights and transparency in the police force.
Chukwuemeka Matthew Onovo. Chibuike Anams. Tina Ezekwe. Peter Ofurum. Johnson Kolade. Chima Ikwunado. Daniel Chibuke. These are only some of the victims fallen because of the senseless police brutality in Nigeria. Say their names, fight for change. #EndSARS.
To get involved, spread the word using your platform no matter how small you think it is. Spread the hashtag, educate yourself and others. Do not be afraid to take a step back, some videos and pictures can be gruesome and heartbreaking.
Sources:
Busu, Muhammad Baba. “SARS: The Untold Story.” Leadership Newspaper, Leadership Newspapers, 7 Dec. 2017, leadership.ng/sars-untold-story/.
Ikuteyijo , Lanre. “Why Disbanding the Notorious Anti-Robbery Squad Won’t Stop Bad Policing in Nigeria.” The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2020, theconversation.com/why-disbanding-the-notorious-anti-robbery-squad-wont-stop-bad-policing-in-nigeria-147934.
Jones, Mayeni. “SARS Ban: Nigeria Abolishes Loathed Federal Special Police Unit.” BBC News, BBC, 11 Oct. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54499497.
Lawal, Shola, and Adenike Olanrewaju. “Nigerians Demand End to Police Squad Known for Brutalizing the Young.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 Oct. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/world/africa/nigeria-protests-police-sars.html.
“NIGERIA: Authorities Repeatedly Failing to Tackle Impunity Enjoyed by Notorious SARS Police Unit.” Amnesty International, 6 Oct. 2020, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/10/nigeria-authorities-repeatedly-failing-to-tackle-impunity-enjoyed-by-notorious-sars-police-unit/.
