Six Years After #EndSARS, Police Harassment And Unkept Promises Continue To Frustrate Calls For Reform

Six Years After EndSARS, Police Harassment and Unkept Promises Continue to Frustrate Calls for Reform Six years after the EndSARS protests brought allegations of police brutality to the forefront of national debate, Nigeria continues to face concerns over unlawful arrests, torture, extortion, arbitrary detention and excessive use of force by law enforcement officers. Despite the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the enactment of a new Police Act and the introduction of additional regulations and training initiatives, lawyers and human rights advocates say the reforms have yet to deliver the fundamental changes demanded by protesters in October 2020. The protests began as a campaign against alleged abuses by SARS operatives but developed into a nationwide movement calling for police accountability, respect for human rights, justice for victims and improved governance. As Nigeria marks the sixth anniversary of the demonstrations, the continuing allegations of misconduct have renewed questions about whether existing reforms are being implemented effectively and whether officers accused of abuses face meaningful consequence. The EndSARS movement gained momentum in October 2020 following years of complaints about the conduct of SARS, a police unit established to tackle armed robbery and other serious crimes. The unit became widely associated with allegations of profiling young Nigerians, unlawful arrests, extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings.

Thousands of people took to the streets in cities across Nigeria, demanding the disbandment of SARS and measures to prevent similar abuses by other police units. The demonstrations also exposed broader concerns about police accountability, citizens’ access to justice and the relationship between security agencies and the communities they serve. The Lekki Toll Gate shootings in Lagos on October 20, 2020, became one of the most prominent and painful episodes associated with the protests. The use of force against demonstrators and the subsequent disputes over the events deepened public concern about the treatment of protesters and the accountability of security personnel. The government announced the disbandment of SARS and introduced measures intended to address the protesters’ demands. However, advocates say the dissolution of the unit did not, by itself, eliminate the practices that had generated public anger. One of the major reforms introduced after the protests was the Police Act 2020, which replaced the Police Act of 1943. The legislation established principles intended to guide police operations, including transparency, accountability, professionalism, respect for fundamental rights and partnership with communities. It also provided for complaints-handling mechanisms, including the Police Complaints Response Unit at Force Headquarters and across police commands in the states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Police Service Commission (PSC) also retains responsibilities relating to police recruitment, promotion and discipline, including the handling of complaints against officers. More recently, the government introduced updated Nigeria Police Regulations intended to strengthen disciplinary procedures, improve recruitment and training, and reinforce human rights standards in police operations.

The Nigeria Police Force has also announced changes to its training curriculum, with an emphasis on practical policing and responses to emerging forms of crime, including offences involving technology and artificial intelligence. However, the central concern raised by lawyers and human rights advocates is the gap between the existence of these laws and their application in everyday police operations. They argue that reforms cannot be judged solely by legislation, policy announcements or new training programmes. Their impact must also be assessed through police conduct, the handling of complaints, disciplinary outcomes and access to remedies for victims. Convener of the Criminal Justice Network of Nigeria, Nathaniel Ngwu, said unlawful arrests, torture, extortion and excessive force remained concerns in police operations six years after the protests. Ngwu argued that the reform agenda had not been sufficiently integrated into the operational culture of the police, leaving some of the practices that triggered EndSARS largely unaddressed. He identified corruption, inadequate funding, poor training and weak accountability mechanisms as obstacles to meaningful change. According to him, some police stations lack basic operational resources, including vehicles and materials needed to conduct investigations. He said such shortages could create situations in which complainants are asked to provide money to facilitate police work. Ngwu warned that requiring members of the public to finance investigations could undermine police independence and create opportunities for extortion. He also raised concerns about arrests made in response to complaints without sufficient consideration of the circumstances or evidence involved. The lawyer further criticised allegations of intimidation during the taking of confessional statements, noting that courts sometimes have to conduct trials within trials to determine whether statements were obtained voluntarily. He said officers who regularly interact with citizens, conduct investigations, operate checkpoints and take statements should receive compulsory, regular training on human rights and lawful procedures. Ngwu called for stronger independent monitoring mechanisms and more effective enforcement of court orders involving police misconduct.He maintained that existing legal protections would have limited impact unless authorities investigated complaints thoroughly and ensured appropriate consequences where violations were established. Recent allegations involving police units have continued to fuel calls for accountability. Amnesty International has alleged abuses by officers attached to the Tiger Base anti-kidnapping unit of the Imo State Police Command, including torture, ill-treatment of detainees, extortion and extrajudicial killings. The organisation said its investigations uncovered allegations that detainees were tortured to obtain confessions and that some people were taken from their cells and killed. These allegations require investigation and, where supported by evidence, appropriate legal action. They should not be taken as proof that every police officer or unit engages in such conduct. Concerns about the use of force also resurfaced during the August 2024 EndBadGovernance protests. Amnesty International alleged that security personnel used excessive force against demonstrators, including live ammunition and tear gas, and reported that at least 24 people were killed during demonstrations across several states. Authorities disputed aspects of the allegations, highlighting the continuing disagreements over the conduct of security operations and the need for transparent investigations. For rights advocates, the recurrence of such allegations years after #EndSARS demonstrates why the implementation of police reforms and the accountability of individual officers remain central public concerns. Managing Partner of Chris Okeke & Co., Chris Okeke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, called for the separation of the offices of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice as part of wider efforts to improve access to justice. Okeke argued that the responsibilities attached to the two positions placed considerable demands on their occupants and that institutional arrangements needed to ensure Nigerians could obtain effective remedies when their rights were violated. He identified police brutality as a major obstacle to justice, particularly for victims who lack the financial resources or legal knowledge required to challenge abuses. According to him, poverty, limited public awareness of legal rights and weak enforcement of existing laws can prevent victims from seeking redress.

Okeke also pointed to safeguards under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, including provisions relating to magistrates’ visits to police divisions, as mechanisms intended to improve oversight of detention and police conduct. He raised concerns about reported instances in which police officers had failed to cooperate with magistrates, arguing that safeguards could not work effectively without compliance. The senior lawyer also called for reforms to police recruitment and the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police, saying the selection of officers and senior leadership should support professionalism and accountability. He stressed that effective oversight must address the question of who investigates police officers when they are accused of abusing their powers.

Principal Partner at Tower of David Solicitors and Advocates, Chuks Nwobi, said meaningful reform required a change in the institutional culture of the Nigeria Police Force. He argued that policing in a constitutional democracy should focus on protecting citizens, enforcing the law fairly and respecting fundamental rights rather than relying on coercion and intimidation. Nwobi called for a shift from what he described as a colonial-era policing mentality towards a service-oriented approach built on professionalism, integrity and accountability. He also identified delays in the administration of justice as a factor that could discourage victims of police abuse from pursuing their cases. The lawyer proposed that serious human rights cases, including those involving unlawful detention, torture and police brutality, should receive accelerated judicial attention, subject to the constitutional requirement for a fair hearing. He further called for measures to reduce unnecessary adjournments and improve the handling of cases across the court system. On accountability, Nwobi said complaints supported by evidence should lead to investigations capable of identifying responsible officers and imposing appropriate sanctions where misconduct was established. He also urged the Nigerian Bar Association to sustain its advocacy for access to justice and public legal education, arguing that citizens need to understand their rights and the institutions available to protect them. Nwobi added that police recruitment should give adequate attention to candidates’ character, judgement, discipline and suitability for law enforcement duties. The Police Service Commission has identified inadequate funding as a major constraint on its ability to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively. The commission oversees important aspects of police personnel administration, including recruitment, promotion and disciplinary matters. Funding limitations can affect the capacity of oversight institutions to investigate complaints, monitor compliance and carry out disciplinary responsibilities. The concern highlights the need for reform to address not only the conduct of individual officers but also the resources and independence of institutions responsible for supervising police operations. However, improved funding alone would not guarantee accountability. Its impact would depend on transparent procedures, effective investigations, independent oversight and consistent enforcement of disciplinary and judicial decisions. The EndSARS protests forced the country to confront longstanding concerns about police powers and the treatment of citizens. The disbandment of SARS, the Police Act 2020 and subsequent regulatory and training initiatives represent changes introduced in response to those demands. Yet the persistence of allegations of unlawful arrests, torture, extortion and excessive force has kept questions about implementation and accountability in the public debate. Lawyers and human rights advocates are calling for more effective complaint mechanisms, improved police training, better-funded oversight institutions, fair recruitment procedures and faster access to justice. They also insist that victims should be able to report abuses without intimidation and obtain remedies when violations are established. Six years after the protests, the central issue remains whether the reforms will translate into consistent changes in police behaviour and stronger protection of citizens’ rights. For many of the protesters’ supporters, lasting closure will depend not only on policies and official commitments but also on transparent investigations, accountability for proven misconduct and a policing system that earns public trust through lawful and professional conduct.