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Amnesty International, Nigerian chapter, has exposed massive human rights violations in Nigeria by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS] segment of the Nigeria Police Force.
The human rights organisation said that Nigerians, using the hashtag “#EndSARS” and “#EndSarsAtrocities”, have resumed the campaign to shut down the brutal police squad.
Amnesty International made the revelations in a recent of tweets on its Twitter handle as follows:
“How #SARS torture detainees: At about 7-8pm the police would call out names of detainees, who were then taken out and tortured. They ask suspects to lie down and they will be hitting them with rods all over their bodies telling them to admit that were armed robbers.”
“Testimonies indicate that #SARS officers routinely fail to bring suspects before a court within 24 to 48 hours as prescribed under the Constitution. Many are held for longer periods, sometimes up to ten months.”
“In all #SARS stations visited in June 2016, Amnesty International researchers spoke to a total of 18 detainees, who said they had no access to their lawyers, families and medical care.”
“In the cell at #SARS, we were about 56 detainees. The space was so small that we sat on each other’s laps. The beating at SARS was very intense. On several occasions during my detention, I was brought out of the cell and beaten with sticks and rope,” -A victim of SARS told Amnesty International.
“Amnesty international’s research also shows that #SARS officers involved in the torture and other ill-treatment of detainees are rarely held to account and in some cases are transferred to another location to avoid punishment.”
“In Nigeria police posting to #SARS is lucrative. Posting to #SARS is in some cases preceded by intense lobbying by potential officers, as it is seen as a means of earning a substantial amount of money in a short time.”
“Amnesty International believes that because many officers have bribed their way into #SARS units, they may therefore feel unaccountable to the very superiors they have bribed and who, in many cases, are the ones to investigate their alleged wrongdoing.”
“A total of 20 former detainees at #SARS stations in Abuja, Awkuzu and Enugu told Amnesty International that they had not been told the nature of their alleged offences during arrest & that they had no access to lawyers.”
“When Amnesty International researchers visited the Abuja #SARS interrogation room at the “abattoir” in 2016 they noticed one of the officers holding an iron bar, which was immediately hidden under a table on the instruction of the officer-in-charge.”
“Despite numerous petitions from Nigerian & international human rights organizations to the Nigeria Police there is no indication that any #SARS police officer has been punished specifically for torturing detainees.”
“A victim who was only released after paying #SARS N25,000 bribe said, “They told me to slap myself and, when I refused, they started beating me with the side of their machetes and heavy sticks. My mouth was bleeding and my vision became blurred.”
“Suspects released from custody of #SARS largely spend weeks in hospital recovering from injuries.”
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“Police torture is a stain on #Nigerian society that must be addressed with clear orders to law enforcement officers not to inflict torture or other ill-treatment on detainees under any circumstances.”
“A victim whose home was stormed by #SARS in Nsukka said, “The police team from #SARS forcefully broke into boxes, locked furniture and drawers. By the time they left, several items including watches, jewellery and shoes were missing. We were too scared to report the incident.”
“Apart from torture and rampant bribery, some family members told Amnesty International that #SARS officers stole their cars or withdrew all the money from their bank accounts.”
“Failure of Police to tame the atrocities of #SARS is hardly surprising when many of the officers have bribed their way to #SARS in the first place. The police chiefs in charge are themselves entwined in the corruption.”
“Despite widespread reports of atrocities by #SARS no action has been taken to bring them to justice. This lack of accountability breeds & perpetuates impunity, creating an environment where #SARS officers believe they have carte blanche to carry out acts of torture.
“Lawyers in Anambra state said that they are not allowed to see clients in #SARS custody. In some cases #SARS officers direct suspect’s family members to specific lawyers who will negotiate a bribe on their behalf.”
“Being posted to #SARS is often regarded as a “juicy” posting and in some cases preceded by intense lobbying by potential officers. An officer said sometimes they pay superior officers responsible for transfers as much as N300,000 to influence their posting to #SARS.”
“Our research has discovered the callous workings of #SARS – a squad operating outside of the law and inflicting daily brutality on #Nigerians who are often legally powerless to defend themselves against criminal accusations, let alone from the torture meted out by SARS.
Majority of the victims of torture in SARS custody are poor and unable to hire legal representatives. In some cases when detainees cannot afford to pay bribes, they are simply tortured more.”
“Apart from demanding bribes, SARS officers have been accused of stealing or confiscating property from relatives of detained suspects. Some family members told Amnesty International that #SARS officers stole their cars or withdrew all the money from their bank accounts.”
“Amnesty International’s research shows that, in addition to its stated remit of tackling violent crime, SARS investigates civil matters and in some cases tortures detainees involved in contractual, business and even non-criminal disputes.”
For the full documentation of SARS atrocities, download the document here.
