Following a public and international outcry, police authorities acting on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari has disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squads (SARS)nationwide.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, announced the dissolution of the police unit yesterday. The #EndSARS movement started on Twitter in 2017 as a reaction to growing public outcries over allegations of brutality and human rights violations. The movement ignited protests led by civil society groups asking the government to scrap SARS.
The protesters shared several stories and video evidence of how members of SARS had engaged in kidnapping, murder, theft, rape, torture, unlawful arrests, high-handedness, humiliation, unlawful detention, extrajudicial killings, and extortion.
SARS officers were accused of profiling youths largely based on appearance as they go after those with tattoos, dreadlocks, and gold chains which many officers also bear.
Daughters of President Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo have also expressed support for the #EndSARS campaign which has led to the death of civilians and policemen.