Officers of the disbanded SARS unit found culpable of criminal activities will face the full wrath of the law, Inspector-General Mohammed Adamu told Nigerians on Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Adamu, in a televised address, announced the dissolution of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a notorious unit of the police beset by years of extra-judicial murders and corruption.

Mr. Adamu said SARS agents to other police formations, commands and units, handed the Nigerian people a major victory in their quest to end decades of police brutality.

Millions of Nigerians, who thronged the streets in protest, had demanded the immediate disbandment of the brutal police squad.

The #EndSARS protests, Peoples Gazette learnt, had cost the Nigerian government a lot of diplomatic capital following statements from top politicians and celebrities around the globe, calling on the Buhari-led government to ensure safety of citizens as they exercise their right to protest.

Mr. Adamu’s announcement came hours after the Gazette exclusively reported that the police chief was set to immediately scrap SARS as a police unit.

“A new policing arrangement for tackling the offences of armed robbery and other violent crimes will be unveiled to the public soon”, Mr. Adamu said, putting an end to the infamous police squad.

“To deal with the report on crimes committed against citizens, an investigative team will be constituted which will include civil society organisations and culprits will be punished”, the statement added.

The police authority also revealed plans to launch a “citizens and strategic stakeholders forum” to provide an avenue for citizens to advise the Force on policing issues affecting the public.

Foremost rights body, Amnesty International, welcomed Mr. Adamu’s announcement, but demanded that SARS cells across the country be opened for independent inspection.

The cells are believed to be holding children and innocent citizens. 

Rights groups have also accused the outlawed squad of carrying out most of the extra-judicial killings linked to them in detention centres across the country.