Special Anti-Robbery Squad - The African Mirror

Oct

2020

NIGERIAN SHOOTINGS: Denials of fatalities, an appeal for calm and a 24-hour curfew

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER NIGERIA’S Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has denied that there were fatalities after the army opened fire on unarmed protestors in the suburb of Lekki. The governor described the shooting as people protested against police brutality on Tuesday night as among the "darkest hours from our history as a people." Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed for understanding and calm, a day after soldiers opened fire on protesters in the city of Lagos. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Photo: European Union 2015 - European Parliament He did not directly address the shootings, but called on Nigerians to have…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Witnesses say 15 people died after Nigerian police opened fire with live ammunition on unarmed protesters

NEWS

ALEXIS AKWAGYIRAM and LIBBY GEORGE SOLDIERS opened fire on Nigerians protesting against police brutality in the Lekki district of the commercial capital Lagos on Tuesday, and at least two people were shot, four witnesses told Reuters. Thousands of Nigerians have demonstrated nationwide every day for nearly two 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 with demonstrators calling for a raft of law enforcement reforms. "They started firing ammunition toward the crowd. They…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Nigerian calls on anti-police protesters to enter into a dialogue

NEWS

PAUL CARSTEN NIGERIANS protesting against what they condemn as police brutality must end their daily demonstrations and enter into dialogue with the government on law enforcement reforms, the youth minister has said. Thousands of Nigerians calling for an end to alleged brutality and for law enforcement reforms have taken to the streets every day for more than a week across the country, posing a major challenge to President Muhammadu Buhari. Protests have continued despite the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit on Oct. 11 following accusations of human rights abuses against the unit. Sunday Dare, Minister of…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Young Nigerians rise up to demand a different kind of freedom

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SAKIRU ADEBAYO, Postdoctoral fellow, University of the Witwatersrand TWO days after Nigeria celebrated its sixtieth year of independence, a video of a young man brazenly killed by a member of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad or SARS caught the attention of netizens. The Twitter user who posted the viral video claimed the man’s body had been left at the side of the road and his Lexus stolen. It sparked a wave of protests across most of Nigeria’s urban metropolises. Under the moniker #ENDSARS, the protests have garnered support from Nigerian celebrities, Nigerians in the diaspora and even international stars such…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Nigerian army plans nationwide exercise as protests rock country

NEWS

CAMILLUS EBOH and ALEXIS AKWAGYIRAM THE Nigerian army will begin a two-month national exercise while denying the move was part of any security response to recent widespread demonstrations against alleged police brutality. Operation Crocodile Smile would run across the country from October 20 to December 31, the first time the annual exercise, typically concentrated in the Delta region, will be nationwide, Musa said. The move comes just days after the army said it was ready to step in and restore order, but Musa said in a statement that the exercise "has no relationship with any lawful protest under any guise…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Why are Nigerians protesting against police brutality?

NEWS

LIBBY GEORGE NIGERIANS protesting police brutality have hit the streets across Africa's most populous nation for more than a week, and the hashtag #EndSARS trended on Twitter even after the police promised to dismantle the controversial unit on October 11. What is SARS, what attempts have been made to address police abuses in Nigeria and what do protesters want? WHAT WAS 'SARS'? * Police formed the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in 1992 to tackle violent crime such as car-jackings, armed robbery and kidnapping. Because SARS was initially designed as a covert force, officers did not wear uniforms - a practice…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Protesters march on Nigerian parliament after army threatens to step in

NEWS

ALEXIS AKWAGYIRAM and CAMILLUS EBOH HUNDREDS of protesters have marched to the gates of Nigeria's parliament, hours after the army said it was ready to step in and restore order after more than a week of demonstrations against police brutality. The protest defied a ban on mass rallies in the capital Abuja that the government said was imposed earlier on Thursday to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Chanting crowds also blocked roads and waved flags and banners in the commercial hub Lagos, where protesters reported clashing with unidentified men wielding weapons. Video on social media appeared to show men…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

More Nigerian protests against police brutality as reforms fail to convince

NEWS

TEMILADE ADELAJA and ALEXIS AKWAGYIRAM NIGERIAN protesters demanding an end to police brutality returned to the streets on, saying they were unconvinced by the creation of a new police unit and a pledge not to use violence against demonstrators. Protesters have staged daily marches nationwide for a week, calling for an overhaul of police forces. Police have responded to the demonstrations with beatings, tear gas and gunfire, which human rights group Amnesty International said had killed at least 10 people. The protests have prompted a raft of announcements. The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a police unit that demonstrators have long…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Nigeria’s police to stop using force against protesters – presidency

NEWS

TIFE OWOLABI and FELIX ONUAH NIGERIA’S police have agreed to stop using force against protesters, the presidency has announced, a day after law enforcement agents shot live fire at demonstrators in Lagos where an official said two people were killed. Demonstrators have been calling for almost a week for law enforcement to halt the use of force against them, but marches demanding the end of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit have been met with beatings, tear gas and gunfire. Protesters continued to demand a police overhaul despite President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday vowing "extensive police reforms". On Sunday…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Why disbanding the notorious anti-robbery squad won’t stop bad policing in Nigeria

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

LANRE IKUTEYIJO, , Obafemi Awolowo University A wave of protests has spread through Nigeria as citizens call for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigeria Police. This followed footage that went viral of the squad beating a man to death. Protesters took to the streets and started a social media campaign using the hashtag #ENDSARS. On Sunday, October 11, 2020, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, announced the unit would be dissolved, though protests continued as there was little clarity on what the next steps would be. Nigeria has had several special tactical police…