Tracking the Lifecycle of SARS in Ilorin: Establishment, Functionality, and Disbandment, 1992–2020
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Date
2026-03-30
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Publisher
Journal of Social Studies, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Abstract
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force established in
1992 by retired Commissioner of Police Simeon Danladi Midenda, became widely associated
with human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, unlawful
detention, and extortion. Although originally created to combat armed robbery, the unit’s
operations gradually shifted toward targeting young Nigerians suspected of cybercrime, often
based merely on the possession of laptops or smartphones. These abuses generated
widespread public resentment and eventually triggered the nationwide EndSARS protests of
2020. This study adopts a historical approach to examine the evolution, operations, and
eventual disbandment of SARS within the Ilorin metropolis between 1992 and 2020. Using
qualitative methods, the research draws on both primary and secondary sources, including
interviews with protesters and information from the Kwara State Ministry of Justice. Findings
reveal persistent abuses of power by SARS operatives in Ilorin, which significantly
contributed to local participation in the 2020 protests and the eventual dissolution of the
unit. The study emphasizes the need for stronger governmental commitment to the
protection of fundamental human rights.