SARS overhaul: We need to monitor Osinbajo’s order, says Segun Awosanya

The Covener of the #EndSARS Movement, Segun Awosanya on Tuesday said the order to overhaul the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was a welcome development.

Nigeria’s acting president Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday ordered the immediate overhaul of SARS.

“Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Acting-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS,” Osinbajo spokesman Laolu Akande said in statement.

However, Awosanya in a chat with Guardian said the pronouncement needs to be monitored for proper and full implementation.

“We know the commander’s intent, we know what led to the pronouncement but we don’t want it to just be a political pronouncement,” Awosanya said.

“We need to monitor it and ensure that it does what we the people have demanded.”

Awosanya hoped that the new unit that will emerge after the formation of the present one will be different from the current anti-robbery unit.

“Our own is that the experience and feedback from people must not be that of pain and anguish ever again,” he said.

Awosanya further urged the Nigerian government should take responsibility of the police so that “they won’t be tempted to be abusing the citizenry again.”

The #EndSARS campaign began on social media to protest the activities of the police unit which have been accused of extortion, harassment, robbery, intimidation and extra-judicial killings.

The campaign reached its peak in late 2017, causing #EndSARS to trend for weeks on social media. The outrage expressed in the digital space, which had resonated with celebrities, quickly morphed into street protests in different parts of the country.