DO YOU KNOW? Disbanded “Special Anti-Robbery Squad” (SARS) Is Back (See This)

Who do we offend in this country?

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was a Nigerian Police Force unit created in late 1992 to deal with crimes associated with robbery, motor vehicle theft, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and firearms.

SARS was controversial for its links to extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, extortion, torture, framing, blackmail, kidnapping, illegal organ trade, armed robbery, home invasions, rape of men and women, child arrests, the invasion of privacy, and polluting bodies of water with the illegal disposal of human remains.

SARS was investigated several times in response to protests, but without results; reforms were promised in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Finally, the unit was disbanded on 11 October 2020 after worldwide protests under the motto “End SARS” occurred.

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It is shocking to hear that, the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman has revived the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) again.

In a statement, couple of days ago, the IGP was said to have released new terms and conditions on the operation of SARS officials. Also made phone numbers available for citizens to report harassment.

According to Baba Usman, SARS has been reformed and the new rules of engagement are stated below:

“No SARS personnel is allowed to interface in any civil matter.

“They are not allowed to interfere in cybercrime (yahoo yahoo).

“No SARS personnel is allowed to conduct a stop and search exercise unless there is a distress call from victims or members of the public.

“They are not allowed to be involved in commercial matters, debt recovery, (landlord vs tenant issues).

“They are not allowed to interfere in any social/relationship cases (marital matters, boyfriend/girlfriend relationship).

“They are strictly for armed robbery and kidnapping cases!”

Also, citizens are encouraged to report cases of harassment by any of its officials to the following office: DIG, Department of Operations:

08037025670, IGP X-SQUAD 0902 690 0729, 08078662130, 08174041000 – CALLS.

0903 227 8905 – SMS.

0903 562 1377 – WhatsApp

Hmm….

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You recall, in October 2020 there were massive protests in some states tagged #EndSARS.

End SARS is a decentralised social movement, and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria. The slogan calls for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police with a long record of abuses.

The youths demanded that SARS, the notorious police unit, responsible for human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, and other atrocities should be disbanded.

However, during the protests, the Nigeria police unleashed more terror on peaceful protesters in many parts of the country, including at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, the epicentre of the struggle.

MY THOUGHTS:
I sense more terror, extortions and brutalities.

Making provision for phone numbers to call and report cases of harassment by the newly redeployed notorious police unit SARS, says it all.

QUESTION:

Do You Suggest For Another Nationwide #EndSars Protest or Not?