Nigerians have renewed calls for proscription of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force over alleged extrajudicial killings and harassment of young people.
On Saturday, a video of a man allegedly shot by SARS officials in Ughelli, Delta state, surfaced online and went viral.
This had opened the floodgates of criticisms on social media platforms, especially Twitter.
Using the hashtags #EndSARS and WarOnSARS, several Nigerians shared their harrowing experiences with officials of the police unit.
They also called for its scrapping, lamenting the nightmares SARS officials have continued to cause youths.
“This Is Getting worse every day. Promising Youths Lives Been Cut Short. Why Should We Be Living In Fear? Why Should We Be Scared To Move Freely? Why Must Our Peers Return Home And The First Question We Ask Is “POLICE DEY ROAD” ? “YOU SEE POLICE”? WHY,” Small Doctor asked.
“No doubt, SARS officers have turned themselves into state-sponsored terrorists and robbers. They frame, arrest, extort and kill Nigerians at will. Evidence after evidence has been made public with names of culprits, but the FG has chosen to turn a blind eye. We must #EndSarsNow,” a Twitter user said.
This is not the first time there will be a public outcry against the activities of SARS.
In December 2017, the internet was inundated with calls for scrapping of the police department over incidents of brutality, abuse and harassment reported against SARS operatives.
Here is what some Nigerians had to say:
Dear @MBuhari ,
AdvertisementI really don’t understand how nothing has been done about SARS yet. The videos we see everyday get worse and worse! Kindly save your people from this menace.
A Concerned Nigerian. #EndSarsNow
— Mohammed Jammal (@whitenigerian) October 3, 2020
The Sars operatives act like bandits, constantly baying for blood and harrasing citizens they are meant to protect.
Since the govt is acting like they can't see what's going on.
One day a huge push back will happen
Till then #EndSars
Advertisement— Cinderella Man (@Osi_Suave) October 3, 2020
No doubt, SARS officers have turned themselves into state-sponsored terrorists and robbers. They frame, arrest, extort and kill Nigerians at will. Evidence after evidence has been made public with names of culprits, but the FG has chosen to turn a blind eye. We must #EndSarsNow.
— Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) October 3, 2020
This Is Getting Worse Everyday 😢.
Promising Youths Lives Been Cut Short😢
Why Should We Be Living In Fear?
Why Should We Be Scared To Move Freely?
Why Must Our Peers Return Home And The First Question We Ask Is “POLICE DEY ROAD” ?
“YOU SEE POLICE”? WHY ? 🤦🏾♂️#EndSARS— small DOCTOR (@iam_smalldoctor) October 3, 2020
I remember when they said #EndSARS was just an unnecessary social media noise of attention seeking people . Until victims started supporting their claims with video evidence. I wonder if @MBuhari, @ProfOsinbajo and co would claim they've never seen these videos! Cc @PoliceNG
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) October 3, 2020
From what I’ve seen on here, kidnappers can dress like SARS and tell you to enter inside bus.
May God help us in this country.#EndSARS— PRAIZ #ToTheMoonEp (@Praiz8) October 3, 2020
#SARS officers are getting rich through their brutality. In Nigeria, it seems that torture is a lucrative business. #EndSarsNow #EndPoliceBrutality
— Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) October 3, 2020
A situation where the officers of @PoliceNG become a threat to the lives and property of the very citizens they swore to protect is condemnable and unacceptable.
— Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) October 3, 2020
Our leader’s children are getting married everyday, but the poor masses would not see their wedding day because SARS are killing them. They won’t see their children and enjoy their home because of SARS. Why are our leaders so wicked to us? #EndSARS #EndSarsNow
— Sally Suleiman (@is_salsu) October 3, 2020
The gruesome harrasment of the men called SARS has to end #EndSarsNow #EndSARS
— Tony Umez (@toneroangel) October 3, 2020
What’s going on Nigeria 🙄 #EndSarsNow
— Daddy Freeze (@DaddyFRZ) October 3, 2020
Some people here think this SARs thing no consign me..
What goes around comes around..
We need to overhaul our policing system..not that yeye police bill..#EndSarsNow is a must!— Anthony Ehilebo (@AnthonyEhilebo) October 3, 2020
SARS is killing innocent people
SARS is killing innocent people.
SARS is killing innocent people.If we don’t #EndSARSBrutality, a point will come when nigerians will fight back very badly and kill SARS officials.
May we never get there.
That is the start of chaos and anarchy.— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺🇳🇬🇬🇧 (@DrOlufunmilayo) October 3, 2020
When a body that was created to protect society consistently harms the people they are meant to protect, it is only right that they be disbanded
The government can’t pretend that they only see tweets when people make parodies & threats about them#EndSarsNow #EndSARSBrutality
— Edna Jennifer (@JE_dna) October 3, 2020
How many more innocents people must SARS/the police kill before urgent steps are taken to completely overhaul and reform the entire police force? Obviously government and their families are safe is why they are nonchalant and indifferent.
— Femi Anikulapo-Kuti (@Femiakuti) October 3, 2020
@PoliceNG You stand the risk of receiving the full weight of anarchy if you do not take quick and holistic corrective actions on the demand of society for a reformation of your apparatus and employees. This rejection of moral and legal jurisdiction is unpardonable.#EndSarsNow
— Someone's son 😏 (@Shy_loow) October 3, 2020
Going forward. Just reply every government handle with #EndSARS no matter what they tweet. It is now unbearable.
— Amara Nwankpa (@Nwankpa_A) October 3, 2020
SARS at it again! 💔💔
This tyranny has to stop!💔#EndSARS— DJ KAYWISE (@djkaywise) October 3, 2020
You’ve got to feel SARS actions are deliberate, like they’ve the government’s backing. #EndSarsNow #WarOnSARS
— YorubaBoy® #BBNaija (@YorubaBoy__) October 3, 2020
Reports of intimidation, harassment and outright extortion by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have continued unabated.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) October 3, 2020
Is it that the @NigeriaGov and the @PoliceNG are not aware of the nefarious activities of SARS or that they support it? I don’t understand. #EndSARS
— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) October 3, 2020
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