SARS AND THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY.

I am a young Nigerian youth working hard to make ends meat against all odds of economic and social hardship.
I have gotten to the point where I can no longer keep quiet over fears of what might happen to me if I speak up.

The constant rise in the level of intimidation, harassment, emotional, psychological and physical assault, brutality and even extra judicial murder being carried out by those who have been constitutionally endowed to safe guard and protect us; the Nigerian Police.

Every person(youths especially) who seem to have a level of success is a criminal to them.
The most guilty of this is the division of the Nigerian police called The Special Anti-Robbery Squad a.k.a SARS.

Whether you're trekking, on a bike, in a cab or driving, you're not safe! Not even celebrities and we'll known personalities are exempted from their menace. They have now become a growing scourge in the society. Some even refer to them as legal armed robbers and many even dread them more than the real armed robbers.

They(SARS) always act and feel they are above the law. They act with so much impunity and there has been so many recorded cases of extra judicial murders with hard evidence against them.

You don't need to be a criminal for you to be harassed and arrested. Once they arrest you, they frame you up on trumped up charges and if you resist or question them, they use brute force or will even shoot to kill and nothing will happen. All they need to do is tag you an armed robber or cultists. You dare not use an expensive phone (iPhone especially), look good or drive a good car. You become an instant soft target for them.

They raid popular recreational centers and joints, and even bank ATM dispensing points. Looking for victims to exploit, harass, brutalized and extort from. Numerous cases of kidnap and extortion has been made against them over the past few years.
As long as they feel you have money, you become a soft target for them.

It has gotten so bad that you cannot differentiate them from armed robbers. Dressing so casually and dangerously brandishing their Ak47 riffles. Some go about in private cars looking for people to victimize.
SARS officers also act as bodyguards to some persons, delving into land matters, family matters and debt collection that were considered civil cases.

There have been numerous campaigns to put an end to SARS but the government and police authorities have turned deaf ears to them. This clearly shows how insensitive the government is to the plight of its people.

The disregard for public opinion by the government and police authorities clearly shows that some persons in power are benefitting from the corrupt and illegal activities of SARS.
How can a police division be considered bigger than the entire Nigerian police?
The only thing said by the police authorities is that they are going to reform SARS.

When you hear the word "Reform" in Nigeria it actually means "make una learn to live with it".Reformation is just a word used to avoid the underlying issues at hand. It's as good as flattering to deceive.

What steps are being taken so far by the government and police authorities to reform SARS? So far, very little has been done to curb the excesses of SARS despite numerous public outcry for the division to be scrapped. Even the Senate and House of Representatives of the national assembly has spoken out against SARS to no avail. No concrete or decisive steps taken so far to curb their excesses.

When the government and police authorities decide to promote and defend an adhoc unit of Law enforcement that has roundly been criticised by Law abiding citizens it becomes clear whose interest they are serving. Reformation never works when it comes to the police, even the word "force" was officially removed from their name, yet they still carry it along. The Nigerian police is a Law enforcement agency that doesn't respect the law they swore to uphold and defend.

The sad truth is that SARS will not be scrapped simply because it's an illegal cash cow for the Nigerian Police authorities and some highly placed persons in power. They will try to protect it at all cost maybe to the detriment of the voice of the citizens because it serves their selfish interests.

SARS is just a unit/division within the Nigerian Police, for those trying to defend SARS by saying crime will be on the increase once they are scrapped, I'll like to know the job description of the Nigerian Police again? What about the mobile police unit? Does that mean that SARS does the job of the entire police?

Well, in my opinion for SARS to be well reformed, the following measures must be put in place;

1. They must have a special uniform bearing their ID number which should be verifiable. Seeing men with AK47rifles at dangerous junctions at night wearing black shirts and jeans or dressed casually, one cannot easily differentiate between them and armed robbers. Some dress so casually wearing native attires and some bathroom slippers.
They should be given special uniforms.

2. Their roles must be clearly defined. They are called "Special Anti-Robbery Squad". Take note of the words "Anti-Robbery". They should only be concerned about armed robbery and other crimes relating to the use of weapons.
Involvement in domestic and civil matters should be prohibited. Also unlawful intimidation, arrests and violation of civil rights should be prohibited.
The job of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is also to go after internet fraud stars. SARS has no business with that.

3. A special training school should be established for SARS officers and proper background checks should be carried out on personnels. A training school where civil rights are taught as well as social etiquette.

4. The Nigerian Police needs a unified help line number, not multiple numbers.

5. SARS officers should be given special vehicles or special vehicles should be made available for them that will have verifiable serial numbers. The use of private or unmarked cars should be prohibited.

6. Routine mental and psychological tests and evaluation should be carried out on SARS officers.

7. Routine narcotics tests should be carried out on SARS officers.

8. A special task force, panel of inquiry or division should be set up to monitor and check the activities of SARS with the help of the public.

9. The recruitment exercise into SARS should be thorough, with good background checks and evaluation. Illiterates and semi Illiterates should not be admitted into SARS or the Nigerian police.

A government truly committed to the service of the people and the nation will listen to it's people. So far, majority of Nigerians are tired of SARS, as there has been numerous public outcry.

Worthy of note is that the SARS issue is beginning to have a regional coloration which is capable of disturbing the peace, unity and tranquility of the nation. As people of the southern part of the country have been the major victims of this SARS issue.

I know the government and police authorities are aware of the excesses of SARS, but why they've chosen to be livid about it, beats my imagination.

This SARS menace is really discrediting and painting the Inspector General of Police(IGP) as been weak, incompetent and incapable of heading and redeeming the battered image of the police. Even though he's doing his best to improve the Nigerian police.

This SARS issue if not properly handled might be detrimental to the government especially as election time is approaching.

If the above listed points cannot be fully implemented, then SARS should be scrapped!

God Bless Nigeria.
God Bless Nigerians.
May God help the Nigerian police!

From a concerned and patriotic Nigerian.

-Courage. O.

A masterful piece full of insight and truth... Unfortunately like the author said... Nothing will be done at the end of the day...
If you are not pained by this evil entity called sars consult the image below

On point

Sleep

This guy's don't sleep or we now have people doing night shifts!

Nothing will be done.
Na naija we dey.

It's unfortunate, Nothing works,
I don't even want to hear or talk about the Nigerian politics.
I'm just tired bros.

Vampires

SARZ one of the major p in the country at the moment (Lagos ibadan Osun Ilorin etc) i hope n pray the govt works on it, cuz it's becoming too alarming.

Nice one ...

On point.

Is Buhari not listening to the atrocities SARS are committing?

His VP nko, why is he neglecting all the tags?

Nigeria seems on a one way ticket.......

which SARS? shey Sars on the beat?

Hmm. Ok

Op you nailed it well.
I quite agree with you on 3- 5 8 9 point.

I read where igp idris directed the ig squad to monitor the activities of sars. But the need to define the role of sars official is very necessary.

Checking of Phones is illegal- phone and gun there are huge difference.

Nija law enforcement love derailing from their core duty

Get your pvc and vote for sowore, this young man will handle all this sars bull craps.

SARS, another name for extortion.. Mtcheeew

Things has gone so bad. In fact, being a citizen of Nigeria is a calamity. If you ain't rich or got powers you have no right as a citizen


It's not normal for an average Nigerian Youth to be rich because you will be tagged yahoo boi with no proves and molested

Simply put, SARS Means Special Armed Robbers Squad. They are a legal unit of the underworld force.

The problem with SARS is the problem with the entire police poor training and structure

Sars should go back to hell

How will the certificate-less one read and comprehend this?

All these boils down to the fact that Buhari is the wrong president to lead Nigeria.

You can hate Goodluck, u can call him a corrupt President, u can call him incompetent, but take it or leave it, if it were Goodluck Jonathan in power now and Nigerians pour out their hearts like they have done about this SARS menace, believe me, Goodluck will definitely act asap!

Remember when Bath Nnaji then Minister of Power was accused of corruption, GEJ didn't waste time, he removed him. He did same for Stella Odua then Minister of Aviation. He always listened to Nigerians and did whatever Nigerians massively criticised which showed an empathic leader that cares about his citizen.

But Buhari is so wicked, so mean and brutal that he doesn't care about anybody except his son and family members only.

Nigerians complained about Babachir Lawal, Buhari didn't listen. Nigerians complained about IGP, Buhari didn't listen. Nigerians complained about Fulani herdsmen, Buhari paid deaf ear. Nigerians complained about poor electricity and power generation, Buhari allowed Fashola to continue.

Everything Nigerians complain about, Buhari never cares instead he does whatever pleases him, his family and cabals, and gullible Nigerians still believe such a man deserves to continue leading a populous, complex nation like Nigeria.

Op, Buhari don't care, Osinbajo don't care, all the executive don't care because to them, Nigerians are fools whom they can deceive and rule and loot as they like.

The only option is for Nigerians to shun tribalism, shun religion and vote out Buhari as a way of forewarning incoming Presidents that they dare not forsake or overlook the plight of Nigerians that voted them in.

Nigerians should shun tribe and religious politics and look for a more reasonable, empathic, listening and honest person to vote for in 2019 as president and forget about these wicked souls in power now because they don't care o so long as none of their immediate family members and beloved chosen friends and foes are not affected.

It hurts so much that a man who calls himself President of a nation don't care nor listens to his citizens yet he sees himself as a clean, upright man, God is so merciful I keep wondering why God just abandoned Nigerians, it hurts

SARS is undermining EFCC, and it is time EFCC drag them to court!!

SARS = Special Anti Robbery Squad.

What is the relationship between robbery and internet SCAM

EFCC = Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. We have Internet and Money Laundering ACT and unit under EFCC, which means EFCC is specifically meant to fight internet and money laundering scammers and fraudsters like Yahoo boys and co.

Now ask yourself, have you heard or seen EFCC pursuing armed robbers The answer is NO! And u know why It is not their duty!

So why is SARS undermining EFCC by doing their job The answer is because SARS is only out to rob and extort unarmed Nigerians because they are scared to face the real armed robbers reason they flee once they see real armed robbers but form Bruce Lee when they see innocent unarmed young men going about their business.

SARS should face armed robbers and watch Nigerians adore them and even shower them with gifts, chieftaincy titles and praises.

EFCC should be trained on latest internet fraud technics and then dispatched to fish out the real internet scammers spoiling our nations image...it is very easy to fish out real Yahoo Boys. Employ young graduates who are technology savvy and empower them and they will flush out all Yahoo boys. SARS cant end or fight internet fraud in Nigeria because they are not trained for that.

They can't catch the real big time internet scammers because those ones are too sophisticated for them to handle. They are just bullying and killing innocent Nigerians struggling to make a living online out of mass unemployment.

Do SARS know what a freelancer means Do SARS know what it means to work on Fiverr or to be an Affiliate Marketer

Do SARS know what it means to be a social media influencer

Do SARS know what startup means

Do SARS know what ecommerce is

Do they know that a lot of Nigerians are earning legal money online working as freelance graphic designers, video editors, web developers, coders, programmers, social media influencers, curators, voice over artistes, photographers, cartoonists, affiliate marketers, ecommerce entrepreneurs, youtubers, content writers, digital marketers, copywriters, information marketers, etc

Your so called SARS don't even know that a lot of young Nigerians are working online doing legitimate work online and earning bigger money than people working in oil companies, NNPC, even CBN. Yes a lot of guys in Nigeria of today earn above 1 million naira monthly doing legitimate work online, but SARS will see them as Yahoo boys so long as they are not carrying NNPC, Mobil, Shell, CBN, etc staff ID cards.

Gone are the days oil company workers are seen as the highest income earners, gone are the days banking jobs are seen as the best jobs, internet has created better job opportunities for hardworking, skilled/talented young people all over the world.

In fact guys doing Yahoo don't have sense cos Yahoo na small money compared to when u build a legitimate means of earning money online which comes steadily without stress once u set it up well.

Do SARS know this So how can they be able to fight real internet fraudsters

Maybe the few of them that now know about blogging as a legitimate online business only got to know about blogging due to Linda Ikeji popularity and success in blogging.

So before u talk, think okay

SARS are doing illegal job and if we had a listening president, he ought to have addressed this issue on a live TV with the IG! That's how a working nation operates

Op don't worry. One day when they're finished with the citizens they will face the government officials who gave birth to them. It's a norm.

Lexusgs430:
Is Buhari not listening to the atrocities SARS are committing?

His VP nko, why is he neglecting all the tags?

Nigeria seems on a one way ticket.......

Let us face facts, Nigeria is dead!
We cannot all deny it!

At a time that the Fulani feels they own Nigeria, when they don't contribute anything but violence.

The South &,middle belt has had enough of carrying this dead weight called the Fulani.

Think about it, apart from violence what else do they offer?

No mention food biko.

We buy the food, it's not free.
Meanwhile we give them VAT & Oil Revenues freely.

So think about it, if they had the oil will they share?
Common vacancy dem no fit share.
See how fulani people get more posts than the rest of us.

OK.

The dismissed officer that was among the gang offa robbery. Who is he?
A... Student
B. Army
C. SARS
If u know, u know