#EndSARS: Atiku lends voice to end Police brutality against Nigerians

#EndSARS: Atiku lends voice to end Police brutality against Nigerians

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the restructuring of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad, the unit of the Nigerian Police responsible for tackling armed robbery but which has gained infamy for harassment and brutality of often times innocent citizens without just cause.

In a thread on his verified Twitter handle, Atiku who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections reckons that the SARS is now worsening the problem it was set up to combat.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the @PoliceNG was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes. However, the unit has today morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses who strive every day for a better life.

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— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) October 3, 2020

He tweeted thusly:

“The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the @PoliceNG was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes. However, the unit has today morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses who strive every day for a better life.

“Reports of intimidation, harassment and outright extortion by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have continued unabated.

“I strongly condemn their cruel actions against our people, and I urge the government to rise to the occasion and nip this monstrosity in the bud with the seriousness it deserves.

“It is expedient that the activities of SARS are reviewed to ensure that the rogue elements are excised from the unit and sanity returned to its operations.”

There have been widespread condemnations of the activities of SARS as they use underhand methods to obtain money and sometimes allegedly murdering Nigerians under the excuse of fighting crime.