An Overview of the Impact of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) In Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the impact of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Nigeria. It solely depended on the secondary source for information. SARS is one of the Nigeria Police Force units that is saddled with the responsibility of fighting crime in the society; specifically, robbery and kidnapping. The impact was examined in two ways: Positive and Negative impact. From the positive point of view, SARS has been able to reduce robbery and kidnapping to an extent but unfortunately, people now use them as bodyguards to intimidate, suppress, and harass other people. From our findings, SARS tortures people mercilessly, extort, beat, kill and jail people who are not forthcoming with their demands. It was also discovered that, most of them lacks orientation on human relation which is a big gap the Nigeria Police Force need to cover by re-orienting them. Again, it was discovered that some of the personnel smoke and drink. They are often intoxicated while on duty, wielding sophisticated guns. From the study, the following recommendations were made: control measures should be put in place for SARS to be stopped from torturing people. They should equally be stopped from extorting, beating, killing (except in a battle ground) and framing people up just to be jailed. Investigative jobs as that of SARS should be exclusively for graduates in the Police Service. Again, the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Police Service Commission need to often re-orient these officers on human relations. Finally, officers caught drinking or smoking (especially hard drugs) on duty should be properly dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others.

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“…Mr Danladi added the word “special” to Anti-Robbery Squad that was already in existence. This tweak in their name brought about the SARS and that introduced SARS into the vocabularies of the Nigerian police and the Nigerian public (Ogbette et al, 2018).…”

“…However, due to the abrasive and high-handed nature of SARS, people started to see them as bullies and oppressors (Ogbette et al, 2018). It has been alleged that SARS tortures people mercilessly, extorts, beats, kills, and jails those who are not forthcoming with their demands (Ogbette et al, 2018). SARS’ modus operandi can be argued to be predatory policing.…”

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“…SARS was founded in 1992 by a retired commissioner of police, Simeon Danladi Midenda to combat violent criminals, such as armed robbers and kidnappers. The police in general had been engaging in anti-robbery operations prior to the establishment of this special squad (Ogbette et al, 2018). The SARS police unit was reputed to have the necessary skills to combat these violent criminals, thus, they are usually deployed when such violent crimes occur and they are capable of achieving quick success (Ogbette et al, 2018).…”