The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has rejected claims that the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has returned to the streets.
In a statement issued on Monday, police spokeswoman Muyiwa Adejobi stated that SARS is still dissolved and defunct.
Recently, a viral social media article stated that SARS had been reformed, with workers receiving new rules of engagement.
The post specifies the supposed norms of engagement, which include non-interference in civil cases and cybercrime.
Adejobi urged the public to exercise cautious and always check information from the force’s official social media handles.
“The Special Anti-Robbery Squad which was disbanded on the 11th of October 2020, remains dissolved,” Adejobi said.
“The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is not back in operation.
“The recent information regarding SARS reformation and rules of engagement should be treated with caution. Nigerians are encouraged to verify the source of any information before accepting it as true.”
Following widespread protests against SARS’ violence, Adamu Mohammed, the then-inspector-general of police, declared the organization’s immediate disbandment on October 11, 2020.
In October 2020, young Nigerians marched around the country to protest police abuse and demand the disbandment of SARS.
SARS was known for various human rights violations, including extortion, torture of detainees resulting in serious bodily harm, and extrajudicial deaths.
However, worries about police officers’ behaviour and claims of human rights breaches have raised suspicions that police authorities may have surreptitiously revived SARS.
