The Amnesty International has described the recent directives on the ban on routine patrols by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) as “another lame attempt” to curb cruelty on Nigerians.
The agency disclosed this in a series of tweets on its social handle on Tuesday.
According to Amnesty, the Nigerian authorities have failed to tackle the impunity enjoyed by SARS, whose brutality and corruption is becoming increasingly brazen, despite repeated pledges to reform the police squad and investigate violations committed by its officers.
“Last weekend, the Nigerian police announced yet another ban on routine patrols by SARS and other tactical squads of the Nigerian Police, the fourth such ban in four years, amid growing anger over harassment and abuse by officers.
“This is yet another lame attempt to rein in this unit of the Nigerian police which is notorious for the widespread torture and other ill-treatment of Nigerians.
“We have seen from bitter experience that past investigations into violations were largely never carried out.
“To date, the Nigerian authorities have yet to show a genuine commitment to ending the lawless activities of SARS,” Amnesty stated.
They, however, noted that the current collective outrage of Nigerians over atrocities by SARS provides another opportunity for the Nigerian authorities to end police brutality and all form of human rights violations by the police.
