A closer look at the #EndSARS Protest in Nigeria

BY TVISHA MISTRY

SARS or the Special Anti-Robbery Squad was established in 1992 in an attempt to resolve crimes such as carjacking, armed robbery, and kidnapping. Initially, SARS was a covert force and officers did not wear uniforms. In its early stages, SARS proved to be a success, significantly reducing the crime rates in Nigeria – what came next was not expected by anyone.

Over the years, the department started to build a reputation for its brutality and the situations only deteriorated. The SARS task force has previously been accused and proven guilty of harassment, extortion, rape, extrajudicial killings, and torture.

In June of 2020, Amnesty International released a report that documented at least 82 alarming cases of torture, ill-treatment, and extrajudicial execution; conducted by SARS, documented between January 2017 and May 2020.

“Initially, it was successful in reducing cases of violent crime but more recently the unit had been turned into banditry,” says Fulani Kwajafa, the man who created SARS.

“This is not why we created SARS. The reason is completely different. This is not the purpose. In fact, when I am mentioned as the creator of SARS, I feel ashamed. It’s a thing of regret for me. If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have created it. This is not what I birthed, it has been changed,” remarked Kwajafa.

In early October, a video allegedly showing a SARS officer shooting a young man in Delta state before driving off went viral. When such brutal actions were questioned, the police denied the incident and arrested the man who had filmed the video; sparking the protest in Nigeria against police brutality.

The police have had a dismissive response to the protests and have tried to stop them by using force. Some of the attempts include the use of tear gas, water cannons, and live rounds of gunfire. By October 16th, 2020, at least two protestors had been killed in Lagos, and at least three had been killed in Oyo state.

The violence has only been aggravated since then, with the Lagos state governor releasing a statement that 30 people were hurt at a toll gate in the Lekki district.

According to witnesses, soldiers shot at protesters. Additionally, Amnesty has reported that at least 56 people have died across the country since the protests began.

Due to the protestors against SARS growing in size, the government was forced to dissolve the controversial unit on October 11th, 2020. Additionally, the government announced that SARS would be replaced by a new Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT).

“The disbanding of SARS is only the first step in our commitment to extensive police reform in order to ensure that the primary duty of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the protection of lives and livelihood of our people,” President Muhammadu Buhari said.

The inhumane acts of violence have started a movement on social media, using the hashtag #EndSARS.

Raising awareness globally, the #EndSARS protests have spread in different cities across the world including: New York, Berlin, London, and Toronto. Several celebrities such as: Beyonce, Kanye West, John Boyega, Diddy, Rihanna, and Manchester United footballer Odion Ighalo have used their platforms to voice their support for the protesters online.

On Tuesday, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on President Buhari and the Nigerian army “to stop killing” protesters.

“The United States must stand with Nigerians who are peacefully demonstrating for police reform and seeking an end to corruption in their democracy,” Democratic nominee Joe Biden said in a statement.

The SARS Crisis in Nigeria accelerates every day, and has woken individuals, it is our responsibility to raise our voices against the inhumane acts that the population of Nigeria faces.

Five ways to get involved
Educate yourself
Staying informed means that you can help to keep the pressure on the call for change.

Contact your MP
In a matter of minutes, you can let your local MP know that you’d like them to put pressure on our government to condemn the alleged police brutality in Nigeria.

Donate
Organizations such as Diasporans Against SARS have been collecting donations. To actively help Nigerian citizens donate via GoFundMe.

Use your own social media platform
For days the #EndSARS hashtag has been trending, you can easily add to it and keep the world’s attention on Nigeria right now.

Protest
Join your local protest, to take a stand and raise your voice against the SARS police brutality.