October 11, 2020

This Week in Human Rights News

 
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#EndSARS protests in Nigeria

Source: The Guardian Nigeria (1, 2, 3), BBC (1), Al Jazeera (1, 2), Nigeria Police Force (Twitter)

[This is a developing story]

  • Following several days of protests against police brutality throughout Nigeria, authorities announced on Sunday (today) that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) had been dissolved. 

  • Additionally, an investigation team is to be constituted to help deal with reports of crimes committed against citizens.

SARS

  • Founded in 1992 in a bid to combat robbery, SARS deals with crimes associated with armed robbery, car snatching, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and crimes associated with firearms. 

  • However, the unit has been accused of kidnapping, murder, theft, rape, torture, unlawful arrests, high-handedness, humiliation, unlawful detention, extrajudicial killings, and extortion.

  • Recent protests began after a graphic video showing SARS officers dragging two men from a hotel in Lagos and shooting one of them in the street was posted on social media. 

  • This led to countless footage and stories alleging abuse and brutality being shared on social media.

  • Earlier this year, Amnesty said it had documented at least 82 cases of torture, ill treatment and extra-judicial execution between January 2017 and May 2020.


The #endsars movement

  • The announcement of the dissolution of SARS has been met with mixed reactions. 

  • While some believe this is a win for the people, others expressed the opinion that dissolution is not enough but a total reform of the entire police force. 

  • Others are also sceptical that the announced will actually be enforced and followed up with an executive order. 

  • This is not the first time that the SARS unit has been at the center of public outrage. #EndSARS is thought to have been first used in 2018, which led to attempts at reform by re-organisation of the unit. 

  • The hashtag recently gained traction a week ago, with people now calling for a total dissolution of the police unit. 

  • The protests have received support from the Black Lives Matter movement, and celebrities across the world such as John Boyega, Wizkid, Drake, and Davido, amongst others. 

  • Demonstrations also spread internationally. A protest was held on Sunday (today) in London, UK.

 
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