The Fight to End SARS

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Nigeria, have long been accused of extortion, beatings, killings and more. Protesters have marched daily, nationwide, for a week demanding an change in police forces. During these demonstrations, they have been met with beatings, tear gas and gunfire from police which has killed at least ten people, says the human rights group Amnesty International.

On Tuesday, the police agreed to not use violence against the demonstrators and announced the formation of a new police unit called the Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT), to replace the disbanded SARS. Many of the protesters remain sceptical that this new promise will not be upheld and that SWAT is simply a rebranding of SARS.

Wednesday, the day after these announcements, protestors were back to the streets still pressing their call for police reform whilst Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, requested protestors to decrease their demonstrations due to the disruption it is causing to businesses still struggling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.