The anti-SARS campaign

THE #EndSARS campaign which has been trending on the social media was triggered by an online video showing the alleged killing of an alleged “yahoo boy”(internet fraudster) by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the Yaba area of Lagos State.

This led to a petition by Mr Segun Awosanya which was signed by over 10,000 people and submitted to the National Assembly penultimate week, calling for the scrapping of SARS.

The social media campaign and the submission of the petition elicited reactions from the police authorities, with the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, announcing the immediate restructuring of SARS.

The restructuring, as announced by the IGP, includes the “federalisation” of SARS with a Commissioner of Police in the Force Headquarters becoming the overall head of SARS under the Department of Operations.

It also includes the setting up of an X-squad mandated to investigate compliance and abuse by SARS outfits. Also, SARS members will now undergo training in police duties and human rights, and the release of police mobile hotlines for members of the public to lodge complaints whenever necessary.

All these measures by the police have, however, failed to assuage the feelings of Nigerians as millions of Nigerians have pressed on with the #EndSARS campaign on social media with rallies being held in major cities this week.

According to the Police Act, the Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department is the highest investigating arm of the Nigeria Police. This department is divided into 14 sections, of which SARS is one.

Some of the allegations against SARS include abuse, forceful confiscation of identity cards and stripping women naked after accusing them of being prostitutes.

Men are forced to give up their phones and laptops after being accused of involvement in internet scams, and policemen force them to ATMs to withdraw thousands of naira as “settlement fee.”

This is not the first time in our history that Nigerians have complained about ineffectiveness or human rights abuses by SARS. We experienced a similar situation in Lagos in the 90’s which prompted the formation of Operation Sweep, a security outfit of about 4,000 officers drawn from the Police, Army, Navy and Airforce, during the tenure of Colonel Mohammed Buba Marwa as Military Administrator of Lagos.

However, it did not lead to the scrapping of SARS. It is unfortunate that politicians who should know better have also joined the bandwagon of those calling for the abolition of SARS.tions.

I commend the proposals put forward by the IGP, Mr Ibrahim Idris, for the restructuring of SARS.

Peter Akus

Ifo, Ogun State.