EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
When the Nigerian Police Force in 1992 decided to create a special squad to tackle the growing menace of internet fraud, little did it know that a time would come when Nigerians will unite to demand the scrapping of the squad.
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is a branch of the Nigeria Police Force under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID). The squad deals with crimes associated with fraud, armed robbery, car snatching, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and crimes associated to firearms. The squad is also at the forefront of the security agency’s online fraud investigations. SARS officers carry guns, but do not wear Nigerian police uniforms or badges (much like similar “plainclothes” police units in other nations).
However, findings by TheNewsGuru.com, TNG shows that as far back as 2012, SARS officials have been constantly accused of massive killings, arbitrarily arresting people and labelling them fraudsters, in order to extort money from the victims.
For years, videos that appear to show SARS officers extorting and assaulting civilians have been surfacing on social media.
#ENDSARS Social Media Campaigns
After several public outcry against the inhumane treatments from SARS officials were met with block ears, Nigerians launch the #ENDSARS campaign calling for the end of the unit and reforms in the police.
Hashtag End Special Anti-Robbery Squad (#ENDSARS) is a social campaign in Nigeria opposing the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit of the Nigerian Police Force. The campaign started as a social media campaign using the hashtag #ENDSARS to demand for Nigeria’s government to scrap and end the deployment of officers to the squad.
#ENDSARS campaign turns full protest
To further drive home their demands, some Nigerian youths took the protest online to offices of public officials. Starting from Lagos since Wednesday, the #ENDSARS protest held in virtually all the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with protesters promising to continue if the government refused to disband the force.
Celebrities join protesters
The #EndSars campaign has attracted many celebrities, prominent personalities in the world seeking and calling for the complete and total abolishment of SARS in the country.
On Wednesday, Folarin Falana (Falz), Douglas Jack Agu (Runtown), Tiwa Savage, took to the streets of Lagos. Other super star celebrities also joined online with their solidarity tweets and messages.
Since hitting the streets on Wednesday, Nigerians are yet to back out. They have remained consistent, undeterred in their demand for a clean and world class police force.
#ENDSARS goes global, trends Number 1 worldwide
It appears Nigerians are not alone in the demand for the dismantling of the controversial police squad. The world all over stood with Nigeria on Friday and the #ENDSARS trended number one worldwide on social media platforms, especially twitter with over 10 million tweets.. Some foreign based Nigerians have also lent their voices with some calling for the protest in their respective countries.
Protests and campaigns calling for proscription of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Police over alleged harassment and extrajudicial killing entered its third day in various cities across the country.
The hashtag, which is currently number one, is also trending alongside other hashtags: “#EndSarsNow #EndSarsProtests #EndSARSProtest #EndSARSImmediately” after gaining the attention of the international community.
Nigerians in Diaspora, especially those in US, United Kingdom, Canada, UAE, have also joined the campaign by protesting at various embassies.
Eminent international figures also joined in the call for disbanding of the brutal police squad.