Atiku Abubakar on Saturday condemned the special anti-robbery squad as being filled with rogue elements. 

Mr. Abubakar, Nigeria’s former vice-president and main presidential candidate at the 2019 general election, said President Muhammadu Buhari should immediately restructure the unit and make it accountable to the people. 

Many Nigerians have been killed by SARS in recent years, and the unit has failed to change despite widespread outcry. 

On Saturday, there were three reports of extra-judicial killings involving Nigerian police officers in Abuja, Rivers and Delta. The citizens, all of whom were unarmed, were reported dead on the spot. 

In a chain of tweets on Saturday, Mr. Abubakar said Mr. Buhari should not sit by and watch police officers commit grievous rights abuses.

Despite years of advocacy, including a recent citizens-led initiative convened by Segun Awosanya, controversial profiling and attacks on Nigerian masses persist within the police.

Read Mr. Abubakar’s full statement below: 

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the @PoliceNG was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes. 

Reports of intimidation, harassment and outright extortion by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have continued unabated.

However, the unit has today morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses who strive every day for a better life.

I strongly condemn their cruel actions against our people, and I urge the government to rise to the occasion and nip this monstrosity in the bud with the seriousness it deserves.

It is expedient that the activities of SARS are reviewed to ensure that the rogue elements are excised from the unit and sanity returned to its operations.

It is expedient that the activities of SARS are reviewed to ensure that the rogue elements are excised from the unit and sanity returned to its operations.