#EndSARS: Police Reforms Is Key In Nigeria – António Guterres

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres has come out to say that he is happy with the Federal Government’s decision to reform the Nigeria Police Force after several #EndSARS protests.

He disclosed this via his spokesman, Mr. Stephane Dujarric, in New York recently.

According to him, the UN is prepared to accompany Nigeria in those efforts as police brutality cannot be condoned in any part of the world.

He added that Nigeria’s security forces should exercise maximum restraint in their response to the ongoing protests.

His words, “The Secretary-General is following the protests in Nigeria calling for the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and an end to human rights violations allegedly committed by security agencies.

“The Secretary-General stresses the importance of respect for peaceful protests and freedom of assembly and calls on the security forces to exercise maximum restraint in the policing of the demonstrations.

“He welcomes the decision by the Government of Nigeria to disband the Special Anti-robbery Unit and undertake broader police reforms.

“He expresses the readiness of the United Nations to accompany Nigeria in those efforts.”

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The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is a Nigerian Police Force unit under the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police Anthony Ogbizi. Since 2012, SARS has come under controversy for being linked to acts of extortion, torture, framing and blackmail.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad was founded in 1992 by former police commissioner Simeon Danladi Midenda. The major reason SARS was formed was when Col. Rindam, a Nigerian Army Colonel was killed by police officers at a checkpoint in Lagos.

SARS is one of the 14 units in the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department which was established to detain, investigate and prosecute people involved in crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping and other forms of crimes.

During its formation the Special Anti-Robbery Squad was known to operate covertly. SARS operatives were not allowed to wear police uniform, publicly carry guns or have walkie-talkies. They were given unmarked vehicles with sometimes no license plates or private plate numbers during duty.