End Special Anti Robbery Squad otherwise known as EndSARS is a social movement calling for the disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit in Nigeria. The call for the disbandment of SARS was over alleged police brutality, extortion, abuse of human right, kidnapping, theft, torture, unlawful and extra judicial killing meted by the SARS.
The call for the disbandment of SARS started on Twitter with the hashtag #EndSars. Amnesty International had earlier accused SARS of illegally detaining Nigerians and extortion money from their relatives.
End SARS Protest
However, the campaign for the disbandment of SARS moved from social media campaign to peaceful protest on the streets of Nigeria in 2017. The End SARS protest was instigated after officers of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) shot and killed an unarmed man.
In 2018, another End SARS protest hit Nigerian cities after series of report of harassment meted by officers of SARS.
In 2019, there was a peaceful protest calling for the disbandment of SARS after a video of brutality meted by these officers went viral on Twitter.
In 2020, Nigerians started a peaceful protest for the disbandment of SARS in peaceful protests in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Osun, Benin, Delta, Ilorin, Ogbomosho, Owerri.
The protest went from National to a global protest with international celebrities and Nigerians in diaspora joining the protest.
Nigerian celebrities like Mr Macaroni, Wizkid, Runtown, Naira Marley, Burna Boy, Davido, Genevieve Nnaji, Nasty Blaq and many others joined Nigerians to protest against SARS.
On series of occasions, the Nigerian government and the Inspector General of Police announced plans to reform SARS. However, these Officer kept harassing Nigerian citizens.
Victims of Police Brutality in Nigeria
The Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Nigeria police otherwise known as SARS have been involved in the killing of innocent Nigerians. Some of the Nigerians killed include
- Kolade Johnson
- Ifeoma Abugu
- Anita Akapson
- Chibuike Daniel Ikeaguchi
- Tiamiyu Kazeem
- Joseph Eidonojie Ugbeni
- Lynda Angela Igweatu
- Ifeanyi Ozor
- Chinedu Meniru
- Augustine Arebu
- Anthony Nwokike
- Paulinus Ogbonna
- Ekene Isaac Mgbe
- Emeka Ojinze
- Richard Peter Gora
- Ademola Moshood
- Chijioke Iloanya
- Rinji Bala Uzziel
- Ismaila Anyinla
- Joy Ndubueze
- Chibuike Anams
- Christian Ugwuoke
- Tina Ezekwe
- Kolade Johnson
- Solomon Eze
- Tiyamiyu Kazeem