#EndSARS Trends Again After Viral Video of Alleged Shooting in Ughelli Sparks Outrage
The #EndSARS campaign has resurfaced strongly on social media following a viral video alleging that operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) shot a young man in Ughelli, Delta State.
The incident, said to have occurred near Wetland Hotel in Ughelli, triggered widespread outrage after reports circulated that the victim had been shot and his white Lexus SUV taken away by the officers.
The circumstances surrounding the incident were initially based largely on eyewitness accounts and social media reports, and the allegations had not at that stage been independently established.
One Twitter user who claimed to have witnessed the incident alleged that SARS officers shot the young man, left him by the roadside and drove away with his vehicle.
The video and accompanying reports quickly reignited calls for the scrapping or comprehensive reform of SARS, with Nigerians sharing personal accounts of alleged harassment, extortion and brutality by members of the police unit.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar joined the calls for reform, saying SARS had originally been established to combat violent crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping but had increasingly become associated with allegations of abuse against ordinary Nigerians.
Atiku condemned reports of intimidation, harassment and extortion involving SARS officers and called on the Federal Government to review the operations of the unit.
He said officers found to have engaged in misconduct should be removed and appropriate measures taken to restore professionalism to the squad.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare also expressed concern over reports of harassment and attacks allegedly involving SARS personnel, particularly against young Nigerians.
In a statement issued by his aide, John Joshua-Akanji, Dare said the matter had been brought to the attention of relevant security agencies and called for an immediate investigation to establish what happened.
Amnesty International also renewed its criticism of SARS, accusing some officers of torture, extortion and other human rights violations.
The rights organisation called for an end to police brutality and criticised what it described as the failure of authorities to hold officers accused of serious abuses accountable.
The Ughelli incident intensified an already growing public campaign against SARS, with the hashtag #EndSARS trending as Nigerians demanded accountability and fundamental reforms in policing.
