Amnesty International Nigeria has
hailed Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, for ordering an immediate overhaul of
the country’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) police unit.
In a statement, Osai Ojigho, AI Director in Nigeria, said: “This is an overdue yet hugely
important move by Acting President Osinbajo. The growing outcry over the
brutality of Nigeria’s notorious SARS police unit has finally got the attention
of the country’s authorities.
“While this is positive news, it
is crucial that any overhaul of SARS is far-reaching and immediately effective.
Restructuring SARS is not enough unless the government takes concrete steps to
protect Nigerians.
“The reform ordered by the Acting
President must translate into ending the torture, unlawful detention,
extortion, extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations
that SARS officers have been committing for years across Nigeria. That includes
bringing to justice SARS officers found to have committed atrocities.
“There is much compelling public
evidence of human rights violations committed by SARS, some of it directly
documented by Amnesty International, and this should now be used to aid an
effective investigation into the unit’s crimes.
“The special panel convened to
investigate SARS must be independent and impartial. Its aims can only be
achieved if victims are given time and protection to present their cases.”
In September 2016, an Amnesty
International report highlighted gross violations by SARS, including torture
and other forms of ill-treatment.
The report prompted assurances
from the Nigerian authorities that SARS would be reformed, yet shocking violations
committed by the unit have continued.
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