IN SHORT: There are online claims that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, or SARS, known for brutality and corruption, is quietly back in action. Police have denied this.
A post circulating on Facebook in Nigeria reads: “The special anti-robbery squad (SARS) is back in operation. Congratulations Nigerians.”
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad, also known as SARS, was established in 1992 as a division of the Nigeria Police Force to combat violent crime and gang activity in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city.
The original squad consisted of 15 officers who drove around in unmarked buses, often dressed in civilian clothes. However, SARS was disbanded following the #EndSARS movement in October 2020.
The movement began as a protest against police brutality and violence, but turned into calls for police reform and an end to bad governance.
SARS officers had a reputation for taking bribes at checkpoints. They were also known to engage in violent and sometimes deadly confrontations with civilians.
Following the protests, then president Muhammadu Buhari disbanded the unit.
The return of SARS to the police force requires the approval of president Bola Tinubu. Claims about its quiet return, as some have alleged online, could cause alarm.
The same claim appears here, here and here on Facebook. (Note: See more instances listed at the end of this report.)
Is it true that SARS has re-emerged?
‘SARS remains dissolved’
We did not find any media coverage or official statement from the police that SARS was back. If it were true, It would have made the headlines.
On 10 February, the police said SARS remained dismantled.
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to debunk circulating rumours and misinformation speculating the return of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with a reformed set of rules.
“The Special Anti-Robbery Squad which was disbanded on the 11th of October 2020, remains dissolved,” the police posted on X.
“The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is not back in operation. The recent information regarding SARS reformation and rules of engagement should be treated with caution. Nigerians are encouraged to verify the source of any information before accepting it as true.”
More posts can be found here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
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