Special Anti-Robbery Squad (historical unit)

E886228

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was a controversial Nigerian police unit tasked with combating armed robbery but became notorious for widespread human rights abuses and was ultimately disbanded following mass protests.

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Surface form Occurrences
Special Anti-Robbery Squad 0

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf law enforcement agency unit
police unit
accusedOf arbitrary arrests
harassment of youths
sexual violence allegations
unlawful detention
widespread human rights violations
associatedMovement End SARS NERFINISHED
causeOfProtestsIn Nigeria NERFINISHED
country Nigeria
criticizedBy Amnesty International NERFINISHED
Nigerian civil society groups
human rights organizations
international media
disbanded October 2020
disbandedAfter End SARS protests
disbandedBy Federal Government of Nigeria NERFINISHED
Nigeria Police Force NERFINISHED
fullName Special Anti-Robbery Squad NERFINISHED
governedBy Nigerian law
jurisdiction Nigeria NERFINISHED
legacy catalyst for police reform debates in Nigeria
symbol of police brutality in Nigeria
notableFor alleged human rights abuses
extortion allegations
extrajudicial killings allegations
police brutality allegations
torture allegations
operationalScope federal
nationwide
oversightBody Nigeria Police Force NERFINISHED
partOf Nigeria Police Force NERFINISHED
primaryTask combat armed robbery
fight violent crime
protestsBegan October 2020
reasonForDisbandment mass protests
public outcry over human rights abuses
reputation controversial
shortName SARS NERFINISHED
status disbanded
successorUnit Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit of Nigeria Police Force NERFINISHED
targetedGroup tech workers and creatives
young Nigerians
triggerFor End SARS protests
typeOfCrimeTargeted armed robbery
kidnapping
violent theft

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Nigeria Police Force hasDivision Special Anti-Robbery Squad (historical unit)