SARS Nigeria: the police department accused of brutality explained as people are reportedly ‘shot dead’ amid protests in Lagos

Protestors have been calling for an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in Nigeria (Getty Images)

Soldiers have reportedly shot dead and wounded several protestors in Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos.

Activists had been protesting against police units known as Special Anti-Robbery Squad or SARS, with demonstrations rocking the country for much of the month.

Prior to Tuesday’s shooting the protests had already attracted world attention with musician Beyonce among the high profile western figures calling for an end to the group who have been linked with widespread abuses in the country.

Young social media users and influencers in the country have been credited with raising awareness of the abuses, labelling themselves the “accidental leaders” of the cause.

What is SARS?

SARS stands for Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Founded in 1992, the police department was charged with carrying out undercover operations aimed at preventing armed robbery, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other crimes.

According to a 2016 report from Amnesty International the force have been linked with countless abuses against Nigerians, including cruelty and threats of execution.

The group have also been accused of sexual harassment of women and the brutalising of young Nigerians.

Amnesty said that between January 2017 and May 2020 the force was responsible for 82 cases of abuses and extra judicial killings.

In 2018 acting President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo ordered the overhauling of the group.

End SARS protests

Protests against the group have flared up over the years, but earlier this month they received a global audience.

A video of a young man being shot and robbed outside the Wetland Hotel in Ughelli began circulating on social media in early October.

The footage was met with outrage and #ENDSARS was soon trending on social media platforms. The cause gained further traction when reports of a 20-year-old musician being shot by SARS surfaced.

On October 8 nationwide protests began, with young social media influencers and celebrities leading the cause. Footballers Mario Balotelli, Mesut Ozil and Odion Ighalo are among those calling for action with the former calling on followers to “Pray for Nigeria”.

Protestors soon demanded the prosecution of SARS officers guilty of abuses, as well as the psychological evaluation and retraining of all SARS officers.

On October 11 President Buhari disbanded the unit, but protestors are continuing to call for changes to the force.

What happened in Lagos?

On Tuesday 20 October, a number of protestors were shot in Lagos while protesting against police brutality.

Eyewitnesses have told of uniformed men opening fire on the Lekki toll gate.

Armed soldiers could be seen barricading the site of the shooting moments before it took place, according to the BBC.

An unnamed witness told BBC that soldiers "pulled up... and they started firing directly" at peaceful protestors.

The Premium Times News say they have received reports of 12 people being shot dead.

Amnesty International said it had "received credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos".