NIGERIA’s inspector general of police has banned a notorious unit from carrying out stop and search duties and setting up roadblocks amid growing anger at routine harassment and atrocities allegedly committed by its officers.
Mohammed Adamu also said members of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) must always wear uniforms.
Videos shared recently on social media appear to show officers extorting money and even shooting people.
Nigerians want SARS disbanded.
The hashtag #EndSARS is trending on Twitter, triggered by the alleged killing of a young man by officers from the unit in the city of Lagos on Saturday.
Many people are also using the hashtag to share stories of brutality attributed to the police unit.
Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu tweeted on Sunday: “Appropriate actions will be taken, and speedily too”.
SARS and other tactical police units have been banned from “invasion of privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorised search
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