<p><a href=”https://www.okayafrica.com/endsars-nigeria-protests-breaking-down-how-you-can-help-sarsmustend/” target=”_blank”><strong><em>READ: Breaking Down Nigeria’s #EndSARS Protests and How You Can Help</em></strong></a><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><div class=”preroll-video”></div><ora-player></ora-player></p><p>News of the launch of SWAT follows the release of conflicting messages from Nigeria’s government.<strong> President Muhammadu Buhari had </strong>initially<strong> </strong>stated that Nigeria was <a href=”https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54491050″ target=”_blank”>looking into the reformation of SARS</a> through a series of tweets this past Sunday. On the other hand, Adamu released a statement of the disbandment of SARS. President Buhari’s announcement did not set well with Nigerians who are well versed with reading between the lines. Protestors continued even after the luke-warm announcement of disbanding SARS took place and proceeded to <a href=”https://allafrica.com/stories/202010120752.html” target=”_blank”>block Lagos’ Lekki tollgate</a>, bringing the city to a standstill. </p><p>SWAT has reportedly already recruited members. Adamu stated that prospective members will start training next week and will undergo medical and psychological tests. Additionally, former <a href=”https://nairametrics.com/2020/10/13/endsars-ig-orders-officers-of-disbanded-sars-to-report-for-psychological-evaluation/” target=”_blank”>SARS members will reportedly undergo debriefing</a> and be dispersed into police offices across the country. The swiftness of this transition has been seen as “suspicious” by many Nigerians. This is because the call for disbanding SARS was a call to an end all special security forces. Many Nigerians are now calling the formation of SWAT a mere “rebranding” of SARS. Since former members of SARS are suspected to form a part of SWAT itself, there appears to be no difference between the fear mongering police units. </p><p><div class=”dfp_atf-slot” data-not-loaded=”true”></div><script type=”text/javascript”> checkdfpScripts();
</script></p><div id=”dd8ca” class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”9d5adb0ac28ab8a2e3996a57679067e1″><blockquote class=”twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet” data-twitter-tweet-id=”1316066662014160902″ data-partner=”rebelmouse”><div style=”margin:1em 0″>They have created another unit called SWAT. Hope they are not planning to redeploy the same armed robbers there? #SARSMUSTEND</div> — Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@Comrade Deji Adeyanju)<a href=”https://twitter.com/adeyanjudeji/statuses/1316066662014160902″>1602609718.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Furthermore, the disbandment of SARS calls for a critical analysis of Nigeria’s governance. The creation of such special security unit is apparently an “administrative creation” that does not require presidential or legislative permission. According to the <a href=”https://dailypost.ng/2020/10/12/ars-disbandment-why-buhari-does-not-need-to-sign-executive-order-presidential-aide/” target=”_blank”><em>Daily Post</em></a>, President Buhari does not need to sign an executive order to disband SARS. Politically and administratively, this is akin to the tail wagging the dog. This “administrative creation” questions the legitimacy of SWAT and how President Buhari’s delegations of power to organs of state such as the police, places the rights of Nigerians at ransom.<br></p><p>Nigerians youth took the streets last week after SARS allegedly killed a civilian man without cause. The <a href=”https://www.okayafrica.com/nigeria-police-brutality-end-sars-social-media-movement/” target=”_blank”>first public demonstrations</a> calling for the unit’s disbandment erupted in December of 2017. After #EndSARS caught the attention of international media, solidarity from the African diaspora soon followed. #EndSWAT has been trending on Twitter from this morning.</p><div id=”21846″ class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”b7013d6555350e4354ce76bfab72066d”><blockquote class=”twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet” data-twitter-tweet-id=”1316282413719355392″ data-partner=”rebelmouse”><div style=”margin:1em 0″>Our leaders are trying to set confusion in our midst, Dear Youths please let’s not fall for this. Everyone has said… https://t.co/sif7bjGaNc</div> — Sally Suleiman (@Sally Suleiman)<a href=”https://twitter.com/is_salsu/statuses/1316282413719355392″>1602661157.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><div id=”18450″ class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”2a25043e1cd14b2c74d38e3bdde498b5″><blockquote class=”twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet” data-twitter-tweet-id=”1316257884271980544″ data-partner=”rebelmouse”><div style=”margin:1em 0″>We the people of Kaduna are saying #SARSMUSTEND #EndSWAT
#YouthDemocraticParty https://t.co/2B2SShiWbC</div> — MARVE (@MARVE)<a href=”https://twitter.com/Marverealmusic/statuses/1316257884271980544″>1602655309.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br></p><div id=”dc73c” class=”rm-shortcode” data-rm-shortcode-id=”2d4e15d88e8b4fd484fb497c9b434e32″><blockquote class=”twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet” data-twitter-tweet-id=”1316287659313070080″ data-partner=”rebelmouse”><div style=”margin:1em 0″>Never forget that when Nigerian Youths protested against Police Brutality. Old men were fighting over leadership..… https://t.co/2BWH4BuHws</div> — William (@William)<a href=”https://twitter.com/_SirWilliam_/statuses/1316287659313070080″>1602662408.0</a></blockquote></div>
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