youth protecters said no more sars activities in nigeria

 

Abuja, Nigeria – Nigerian protesters have promised to keep up their campaign seeking justice for victims of police brutality and an overhaul of the security apparatus, even as authorities announced the immediate disbanding of a notorious anti-robbery unit that has long been accused of grave human rights abuses.

Sparked by the alleged killing of a man by an officer in southern Nigeria, thousands of people this week took to the streets across the country to protest against police brutality and demand the complete abolition of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Many more used the #EndSARS hashtag online to share stories alleging extortion, torture, disappearances and even murders at the hands of members of the unit.

After days of angry protests, Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu said in a statement on Sunday SARS had been dissolved “in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian people”.

He added, however, all SARS officers would be redeployed to other police units.

‘Problematic’

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, executive director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, welcomed the dissolution of the unit but said the announcement “fell short of the expectations of Nigerians”.

“Nigerians want accountability [for] those officers who have murdered, who have brutalised Nigerians,” he told Al Jazeera. “Disbanding the unit without taking sanctions against those who perpetrated these acts, it means that when they are transferred to another unit, they could replicate the same atrocities.”

Describing the redeployment of officers as “problematic”, Abuja-based lawyer Abdul Mahmud said what was needed was “root-and-branch” reform.

“The psyche of our police officers is built on working outside the law. We will continue to demand respect for the rights of citizens,” he told Al Jazeera.

“The police have to return itself to constitutionalism; step up the training of its officers and ensure that the issue of discipline of erring officers is handled transparently,” Mahmud said. “We have been on this for 10 years.”

 

Hours after the police chief’s announcement, there were reports of protesters being arrested, while a handful of demonstrators in Abuja were forcefully dislodged with water cannons by police officers.

“They are saying one thing and another thing is happening on the streets. We do not believe they have been disbanded,” Chioma Agwuegbo, a protester in the capital, told Al Jazeera.

“You cannot announce that you have disbanded SARS but on the streets of Abuja my brothers and sisters are getting tear-gassed. People are getting injured, women are getting beaten up. That’s not how you disband SARS,” she said, adding that demonstrators will continue their campaign “until we see a disbandment that goes beyond a statement”.

Agwuegbo continued: “We need to see justice for everyone who has been killed. Who are these officers? Prosecute them.”

In his statement, Adamu said the Nigerian police force would work with human rights groups and civil society organisations to investigate cases of alleged human rights violations.

“A new policing arrangement to address anticipated policing gaps the dissolution of SARS would cause has been evolved and shall be announced in due course,” he added.

‘Now they know we have a voice’

The announcement instantly sparked a flood of reactions on social media.

“The proscribing of SARS is a victory in the right direction – though this wouldn’t be the first time this has happened. However, we believe with the camaraderie exhibited by Nigerians and the silent majority, this would be the last of such an unruly unit of law enforcement,” Senator Ben Murray-Bruce said on Twitter.

 

Afrobeats star Wizkid said this was “just the beginning”.

“Now they know we have a voice! And we the youths understand the power we have. We shall continue to speak up about other pressing issues/police brutality and good governance!”

A retired Police Commissioner Simeon Danladi Midenda, founder of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, popularly known today as SARS, has brought solutions on how best the disbanded SARS could be used to achieve effective results, and keep their reputation intact. Midenda who spoke to Vanguard’s Crime Editor, Emma Nnnadozie, last year said: “SARS deviated from the original concept.” On solutions he said: “The controversies engulfing SARS today will not disappear unless they return to the original concept. They should undergo re-orientation and thereafter, disappear from public view and remain faceless. “They should avoid receiving direct complaints from members of the public as most cases received that way will eventually be civil issue but printed in armed robbery colour”. READ ALSO: #EndSARS: Orji Kalu hails I-G for respecting opinion of Nigerians However, Nigerians campaigned against the recent unconstitutional conduct of SARS operatives, protesting with a hashtag, ENDSARSNOW, ENDPOLICEBRUTALITYNOW, WEDONTNEEDSARSNOW, etc, demanding for the units disbandment. The Inspector General of Police yielded to their demands and dissolved SARS, noting that all officers and men serving in the unit would be redeployed to other police commands, formations and units. He promised to come up with a policing arrangement that would best tackle the offences of armed robbery and other violent crimes in the

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/sars-should-disappear-from-public-view-remain-faceless-for-effective-job/

A retired Police Commissioner Simeon Danladi Midenda, founder of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, popularly known today as SARS, has brought solutions on how best the disbanded SARS could be used to achieve effective results, and keep their reputation intact. Midenda who spoke to Vanguard’s Crime Editor, Emma Nnnadozie, last year said: “SARS deviated from the original concept.” On solutions he said: “The controversies engulfing SARS today will not disappear unless they return to the original concept. They should undergo re-orientation and thereafter, disappear from public view and remain faceless. “They should avoid receiving direct complaints from members of the public as most cases received that way will eventually be civil issue but printed in armed robbery colour”. READ ALSO: #EndSARS: Orji Kalu hails I-G for respecting opinion of Nigerians However, Nigerians campaigned against the recent unconstitutional conduct of SARS operatives, protesting with a hashtag, ENDSARSNOW, ENDPOLICEBRUTALITYNOW, WEDONTNEEDSARSNOW, etc, demanding for the units disbandment. The Inspector General of Police yielded to their demands and dissolved SARS, noting that all officers and men serving in the unit would be redeployed to other police commands, formations and units. He promised to come up with a policing arrangement that would best tackle the offences of armed robbery and other violent crimes in the

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/sars-should-disappear-from-public-view-remain-faceless-for-effective-job/