USA Africa Dialogue Series - Need for a Total Systemic Reform in Nigeria #ENDSARS Toyin Falola

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was created in the 90s to prevent armed robbery and other criminal activities in Nigeria. It didn't take long for allegations of it becoming crooked began to swirl. Nowadays, as demonstrations have shown, many view it as a criminal organization filled with individuals who need to be arrested. While it's true that police brutality gave birth to the anti-SARS movement, the recent rallies calling for change – the #EndSARS protests – are not a recent phenomenon.

In the past two years, since Nigerians began the #EndSARS agitation, there have been numerous reports of the SARS terrorizing people, especially youths. Without a warrant, they have been said to stop and search young people who carry laptop bags or internet devices, only to accuse them of cybercrime. There are also allegations of SARS stopping young people riding in vehicles and demanding to know their sources of income. Young men who wear dreadlocks regularly reported being profiled, already deemed guilty based on their appearance.

Now that SARS has been "disbanded," and its personnel is to be scattered among other police units, the protests continue in pursuance of the aspirations for a deeper commitment to an end to police brutality and not a mere repackaging and rebranding. As far as consequences go, we will hopefully see less police confrontation with young people on the streets, and fewer instances of unnecessary bloodshed.

Complications in the form of a spike in crime, as anticipated, will only arise if the police decide to view these protests as a personal affront and choose to lie back while miscreants create mayhem. But if #EndSARS is taken as the constructive measure that it is, then the police will continue with its duty of maintaining law and order with little or no blowback. In all, we must keep in mind that there is no worthy future for any nation without an active contribution from its young and enabled population

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/sars-police-nigeria-corruption-government-reform-protest-b1013164.html

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