Chidi Okereke
It is hard to find someone in Nigeria who hasn’t experienced, witnessed or knows someone who has experienced/witnessed SARS brutality. While a lot of us knew ‘whatsup’, the menace became more evident when #EndSARS started trending on Twitter. A lot of other hitherto-quiet people shared stories of their travails in the hands of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad – people whose duty is to combat robbery and protect citizens. See some chilling stories of the evils these men (not) in uniform do.
Yesterday
https://twitter.com/yabakid/status/936912729138274304
They will kill you and nothing will happen
https://twitter.com/Beanchesterr/status/937221906264141824
Prostitute and Yahoo boy
I remember being dragged out of a taxi and locked in a cell with @codebeast for over 12 hours because I “looked like a prostitute” and he looked like a “yahoo boy”. They threatened to shoot us countless times! We didn’t leave there until we paid 30,000 naira. #ENDSARS now!!!!
— Emem (@ObyEnjoyment) December 2, 2017
Your NYSC member status won’t save you
Thread: I was a victim of SARS brutality during my service year in Enugu. Went for a friend's birthday bash @ the club. On my way out I was accosted by SARS. They said I was indecently dressed. Immediately my friends ran back. I was asked to get inside their van I refused
— TiredNigerian☹️ (@duchessbidex) December 2, 2017
Celebrities are not spared
https://twitter.com/iamTJAN/status/937284217834176512
People are not supposed to be afraid of the people that are supposed to be looking after us. A couple weeks ago, at almost midnight, my friends and I had a gun pointed at us for laughing. For laughing. #EndSARS #ActuallyTakeGunsAwayFromTriggerHappyPeopleWhoHideBehindTheUniform!
— Simi (@SympLySimi) December 3, 2017
I have had my own share of the SARS menace. It is high time this harassment stopped. Our voices must be heard. #EndSARS
— Lil Kesh (@lilkeshofficial) December 3, 2017
#EndSARS I remember when SARS operatives forcefully took my friend and I to the station. They threatened to plant guns in the car and make sure we go to jail. I was shocked when the officer said it with confidence. Imagine how many people are in jail for crimes they never did?
— Jon Ogah (@Jonogah) December 3, 2017
Somebody sent me DM to learn my voice to the SARS menace. #EndSARS now. Hmmmm. If only they knew I had my own story. My life is more endangered than yours with them. My story …….
— SEYILAW: I GOT IN A FIGHT (@seyilaw1) December 3, 2017
Now u c dis SARS issue..they’ve harrassed me upto 7times..slept in the cell for 2days at PWD cos they said they are raiding..a week ago i got brutalized by police in surulere..itire division to b precise,wit injuries on my back..its sad when they say police is my friend #ENDSARS
— BASE ONE (@iambaseone) December 3, 2017
Sigh
https://twitter.com/ArikeMartins_/status/937378020591009793
My God
https://twitter.com/LukeJr_/status/937262943418404864
If this doesn’t infuriate you
https://twitter.com/Bhadoosky/status/937284827669200896
Double tragedy
My uncle got killed by SARS a couple of weeks back and my Grandma died as a result of the news and we still don't know his offence.#EndSARS
— Mr Ogbein (@Daddyawongirls) December 3, 2017
Did they actually shoot him?
https://twitter.com/TrendsOfNigeria/status/937326345083908097
This one happened today
https://twitter.com/Kush_Oracle/status/937346433644146688
No words
Sars stopped us on our way to ilorin. Pulled out my bras and pants and asked why I had g-string if I wasn't an ashewo. Hit my friend in the head 6 times with their guns. They took us to the ATM with my friend's bloody head to collect 40k and never returned our phones.#endsars
— Ọlájùmọ̀kẹ́ (@ruqqayyah__) December 3, 2017
On May 3rd 2016 SARS arrested my wife and I for having (Not drinking or drunk driving just carrying in the car ) locally distilled alcohol in the car.
They whooped me for asking what we did wrong and drove us round different watersides. Later took all the money we had. #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/LKmJOsQePK
— AMANi 🦄 (@Amani_Art) December 3, 2017
Amnesty International said this in 2016
“SARS detainees are held in a variety of locations, including a grim detention centre in Abuja known as the ‘Abattoir’, where Amnesty International found 130 detainees living in overcrowded cells.” from our Sept. 2016 report on SARS @PoliceNG #EndSARS
— Amnesty International Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) December 3, 2017
That UNIPORT student
The Uniport student who died last year at the Uniport school fees protest was killed by SARS. No one has talked about it. We fear SARS more than we fear Robbers. God help us all.#EndSARS
— IFEANYI (@JustECP) December 3, 2017
Betting is a crime – SARS
https://twitter.com/Teju_____/status/937329574073036801
Fornication too
#EndSARS my cuzin was arrested 4 havin a condom he was called a rapist wen our lawyer went to der station dey said his crime was fornication
— Cruise King 👑 (@iamthelouis) December 3, 2017
Having beards too
They stopped us and collected 100k from us because we have beards… After showing ID they said we are yahoo boys. Last week oooo. #EndSARS
— Olisa (@iamollysir) December 3, 2017
Watching football sef
Few weeks ago, SARS raided a football viewing centre where my brother & his friends were watching Champions League.
They arrested all of them and were made to pay atleast 30k as bail.
Their laptops were seized & those without receipts forfeited those laptops. #EndSARS
— Eka (@Lionezz__) December 3, 2017
Don’t drive a Venza
SARS just killed another dude because he was driving Venza 😢😢😢 #EndSARS pic.twitter.com/MddDDJq2fp
— Daniels James (@didrexx) December 3, 2017
Thou shall not have foreign numbers
A Friend Was Stopped in Festac Lagos. His Phone Searched and He Was Held For having Foreign Numbers on his Phone. Chucks was Taken to an Atm and Forced to Empty the little money in His Account!!! Let's stop this barbaric Act#EndSARS
— 🅞Dii《crypt》🧑🏽🎤 (@OdiCrypt) December 3, 2017
Collateral damage
https://twitter.com/somtoobasi/status/937012994034294785
The killing field in Anambra
I am surprised no stories from Anambra youths about SARS operatives.
SARS office in Awkuzu is a killing field .#EndSarsBrutality
— IKECHUKWU (@iykimo) December 3, 2017
No one is saying anything good about them
Not seen anyone say something good about SARS. If they are any good, someone will defend them, you'd think… #EndSARS
— Deji Faremi (@deejayfaremi) December 3, 2017
Not one person has come forward to tweet about when SARS actually stopped a robbery. What's the point of having a special anti robbery squad? #EndSARS
— Deji (@xDeji) December 3, 2017
Special ADVANCED robbery squad
https://twitter.com/Itsbrill/status/937334191309623296
Many young men in Nigeria can relate
https://twitter.com/ani_nomso/status/937249053385076737
Ring Road, Benin
In Ring Road BENIN city that SARS will be loading bus to textile mill road, if you are foolish to not know that they are not normal transporters, you will enter bus, next thing you're in the station paying 30K as bail and they will have a crime for all you 10 passengers#EndSARS
— Mr. Charles Isidi III (@TheCharlesIsidi) December 3, 2017
This broke me
https://twitter.com/Itsbrill/status/937334191309623296
They took his Tom-Tom too
#EndSARS I was on my way jeje to get suya in the night. Sars stopped me, asked for ID card, unfortunately I wasn't with mine, told me to enter their van unless they would shoot me.. I entered the fucking van.
— Not Aro (@ayomideffs) December 3, 2017
Your ID card can’t save you
Lol, I'm just looking at people saying your ID card will save you from SARS harassment… Loooool, my ID card even contributed to more slap offerings for me. #EndSARS
— Bryan Tosin (@olatostar) December 3, 2017
This entire thread
Two years ago in Abuja, a friend asked me to represent his cousin who was taken by #SARS for handling stolen goods.
Got to their office, and asked for the IPO. They said he wasn't around. Asked for my client. They said I had to wait as they were cleaning up.
Then…..
— E K E T I (@eketiette) December 3, 2017
Sigh. There are more than a thousand and one stories like these, reasons SARS should be disbanded or their modus operandi reviewed. Just follow the hashtag #EndSARS and join the conversation.
Feature Image – Edited OneVoice Image for the #IStandWithNigeria campaign
