I'm pretty sure every Nigerian right now and a lot of people all over the world are aware of the recent #ENDSARS campaign. For those who does not know what SARS is, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS ) is a Nigerian Police Force unit under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police Anthony Ogbizi.
According to Wikipedia "SARS officers profile largely based on appearance. They mount illegal road blocks, conduct illegal ‘stop and search’, breaking and entry, typically operating without search or arrest warrants. The unit faces allegations that it's operatives harass, oppress, and extort young Nigerians for wearing or using status symbols like iPhones, luxury vehicles, and sneaker brands such as Nike or Adidas. The unit is also notorious for harassing people who have piercings, tattoos, dreadlocks, and gold chains, though many SARS officers also bear these body modifications and styles.
Their proposed duty is meant to be a very helpful one but since 2012 or before, most of them have resorted to killing youths, extortion, blackmailing victims and torturing them to death. Isn't this contrary to the aim of this unit? Most times, they violate human rights but stopping you on the road, search you thoroughly, seize your phones, go through it without permission and at the end of it they extort you. You don't have to be guilty of an offence before SARS blackmail you or take your life.
Recently a lady was raped and brutally murdered in their custody under 24hrs. This isn't fair! She was supposed to get married in two months time. This is an everlasting scar on her family members and loved ones. She's not the only one who has tasted the bitter brew of the SARS, some are alive to tell the story while the others are already on a journey of no return.
I saw some people clamoring for their reform but the truth remains that SARS has gone beyond reformation. Yesterday, during a peaceful protest, a young lad who was not even part of the protesters was shot dead by a trigger happy SARS officer. A video emerged yesterday where we saw a SARS officer threatening to waste 26 bullets in the body of an innocent protester.
These are not hearsays, there are video evidences online. The evidence of their unlawful arrests, unlawful detention and extra judicial killings. #ENDSARS is not a new movement. It was formed in the year 2017 and they've taken it upon themselves to advocate and protest again police brutality. What triggered the 2020 #ENDSARS is the video of a young man who was shot in Delta state by SARS officers and his SUV Lexus was "taken away"(stolen). This happened on the 3rd of October 2020 and this protest started on the 8th of October 2020. A lot of Nigerians and celebrities have come up to support this protests. Even Nigerians in diaspora are actively involved.During these peaceful protests, Nigeria Police Force disrupted the protests in some cities by firing bullets to the sky and teargas to the armless peaceful protesters. The campaign has witnessed reactions on social media from international celebrities such as Cardi B , Trey Songz , Big Sean , John Boyega and some other African and non African celebrities.
Let's put an end to police brutality in Nigeria. They are there to serve us and not to kill us. Wearing expensive clothes or using expensive gadgets doesn't make us criminals. Accepting cryptocurrency as a mode of payment doesn't make us criminals. Riding expensive car doesn't make us criminals. To be brutalized by a group of people from your race and country is not only unheard of but also evil.
