Please try to keep recent events in historical perspective and add more content related to non-recent events. [41] The protests quickly expanded from an online hashtag to widespread street protests in days. Source: Regenstrief LOINC, LP417540-4   SARS coronavirus 2 [52][53], On 15 October 2020, the National Executive Council (NEC), headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, met with the governors of Nigeria's thirty-six states and representatives from Nigeria's Human Rights Commission and State Security to address the problems caused by SARS. In 2009, after several years of operations, the squad grew in number and strength. Now that it is in the public domain, it reveals that a number of discredited State Security Agency witnesses interviewed may have crafted a tailor-made narrative that an illegal unit existed in SARS. [15] On 20 May 2010, a Federal High Court in Enugu State ordered the then-Inspector General of Police Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo to produce a SARS officer who had shot dead a 15-year-old boy at his high school. [30][31] By mid December, the campaign took to the streets with protests occurring in Abuja. [28], In December 2017, Segun Awosanya spearheaded an online advocacy campaign that demanded an end to SARS brutality in the country. The operative was removed from their SARS position and arrested on charges of murder.[13]. The new hashtags #EndSWAT and #SARSMUSTEND went international as protestors called for the new unit to be scrapped as they thought several members of the defunct SARS would be integrated into the new unit. The outbreak was first identified in Foshan, Guangdong, China, on 16 November 2002.. Over 8,000 people from 29 different countries and territories were infected, and at least 774 died worldwide. [46], On 4 October 2020, Muhammed Adamu, inspector general of police (IGP), announced that the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other tactical squads must stop such operations[clarification needed], including traffic checks, “with immediate effect". In response, SARS was formed with an initial force of fifteen men and two Peugeot station wagons. The number of casualties is disputed, with witnesses and Amnesty International saying several people were shot dead while Nigerian authorities claim there were no fatalities but that 25 people were wounded. The virus also underwent a number of mutations, compared to two other patients who had low B cell counts and most other people with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Box 436. Due to the increased presence of internet fraudsters and secret societies in Nigerian universities, SARS operatives infiltrated them and made several successful arrests, but in the process harassed innocent people. In total, eight people including a 10-year-old boy were killed in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, by police bullets while at least three were shot dead in Lagos—including an auto mechanic who was not part of the protests but was killed by a SARS officer in Lagos. However, this was a small victory as she lost yet another legal battle on Monday after her report into the existence of a “rogue unit” at the SA Revenue Service (Sars… [4][5], The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was founded in late 1992 by former police commissioner Simeon Danladi Midenda. Real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) tests have been developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and others for the diagnosis of 2019-nCoV. Fax number: (012) 483 1701. The public responded positively to the hashtag, with people all over Nigeria posting about their experiences with SARS. Back in Southern Nigeria, the Rivers State government unconstitutionally placed a ban on all forms of protests in the oil-rich state, asking police to arrest any defaulters. [32], The Nigeria Police Force endured backlash over comments made by Public Relations Officer Jimoh Moshood, who accused the campaigners of being "criminals" and "robbers". A temporary COVID-19 testing site can only perform … This facilitated detection of the virus globally with subsequent sequences being nearly identical, suggesting a single, recent emergence from a virus related to bat coronaviruses and the SARS coronavirus. [17], On 3 June 2011, the Nigeria Police Force discovered an attempt by SARS operative Musa Agbu to bomb the Force's headquarters. Several hashtags, including #EndPoliceBrutality and #RememberJimoh, trended on Twitter. The Sars police unit is accused of widespread abuses, leading to 10 days of nationwide protests. End SARS is a decentralised social movement, and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigeria.The slogan calls for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigerian Police with a long record of abuses. Popular Nigerian Twitter influencers Rinnu, FK, Kelvin Odanz, Dr. Dipo Awojide, and several others quickly joined in raising awareness of the protests, which gave End SARS protestors added weight and support. [55] The state governors were also charged with establishing proper oversight over future police activity. Popular Twitter activist Aisha Yesufu was reportedly beaten by male police officers, and her car was damaged by police trucks chasing protestors in the streets of Abuja. ", https://allafrica.com/stories/201005200553.html, https://web.archive.org/web/20200226013011/https://allafrica.com/stories/201005200553.html, "How Police Personnel Raked In 9.35Billion Naira From Roadblocks In The Southeast-Nigeria In 18 Months", "Police foil attempt to bomb Force Headquarters", "Police IG splits anti-robbery squad, SARS, to check abuses", "Meet SARS, the Police Unit with license to kill", Nigeria: ‘You have signed your death warrant’ : Torture and other ill treatment in the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, "Police Commiserates With Family Of Woman Killed By Operative", "UPDATE: Mob kills policeman, injures two", "Ijegun mob beats policeman to death for killing tailor", Police arrest officers who killed suspected Lagos phone thieves, "How SARS kidnapped, assaulted, robbed me —Rapper, Ikechukwu", "Ikechukwu narrates how he was kidnapped by men of SARS [Video]", "Nigerians want police's SARS force scrapped", "Nigeria anger at police brutality video", "Young Nigerians are calling for a brutal special police unit to be scrapped", "#EndSARS: Nigerians take to the Streets in Protest", "#EndSARS: We won't scrap SARS, Police reply anti-SARS campaigners", "Senator backs calls for Police SARS scrapping", "Nigeria: SARS overhaul is a positive step but reforms must be robust", "After Osinbajo's Order, Police Rename SARS 'Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad' (FSARS)", "Nigeria's acting president orders overhaul of controversial police unit", "IGP Adamu orders immediate disbandment of SARS", "Fatal police shooting video of Nigerian man reignites call to #EndSARS", "Jack Dorsey unveils a new Special EndSars emoji", "#EndSARS: Nigerian Army To Unleash Operation Crocodile Smile As Anonymous Targets Its Website", "#ENDSARS: Operation Crocodile Smile VI begins across Nigeria as protest continues", "Operation Crocodile Smile VI comb criminal hideouts in Edo, seek information", "End Sars protests: People 'shot dead' in Lagos, Nigeria", "Nigeria special police unit reined in after abuse allegations", "Nigeria to disband Sars police unit accused of killings and brutality", IGP announces new squad “SWAT” to replace SARS, "End Swat: Nigerians reject police unit replacing hated Sars", "More Nigerian protests against police brutality as reforms fail to convince", "#EndSARS protests expose Nigeria's fault lines", "Nigeria's Police Brutality Crisis: What's Happening Now", "End SARS: Details of Osinbajo's emergency meeting with Governors, IGP, CBN, military, others", "Police withdraws suit to stop #EndSARS investigating panels", "#EndSARS: Governors take charge, to set up probe panels, supervise police tactical units", "#EndSARS: List of States with Judicial Panels of inquiry", "Presidency Expresses Shock as Police Move to Stop Judicial Inquiries", "#EndSARS: IGP orders investigations into alleged suit challenging State's Judicial Panel of Inquiry and queries Force legal officer", "End Sars protests: The Nigerian women leading the fight for change", "#EndSARS: Uncertainty trails Delta judiciary panel as members threatens boycott", "Threats, detentions and frozen assets: Nigeria's protesters depict pattern of intimidation", "Full text of President Muhammadu Buhari's speech", "Young Nigerians Came to Protest Police Brutality. SARS-CoV-2 infects lung tissue by binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2) receptors on the surfaces of cells. SARS was investigated several times in response to protests, but without results; reforms were promised in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. [22][23][24], On 21 August 2019, four SARS operatives were arrested and charged with murder after being caught on film manhandling and then shooting to death two suspected phone thieves in broad daylight. Building: Lehae La Sars. [25] The suspected thieves were shot dead after they had already been arrested. Viral Testing. An angry mob was said to have lynched two of the officers on the spot. Protestors had access to ambulance services obtained with funds donated by people in Nigeria and abroad and lawyers went from city to city providing arrested protestors with representation and facilitating bails. In May 2010, Amnesty International disclosed that it would be suing the Nigerian Police over human rights abuses, stating that SARS operatives in Borokiri, Port Harcourt, had arrested three bicyclists and detained them for over one week while they were "beaten every night with the butt of a gun and iron belt". [ citation needed ] At the time, SARS was one of the fourteen units in the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department , [10] and was established to detain, investigate, and prosecute those involved in violent crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping. This panel contains a convenience grouping of terms for questions commonly asked when an order is placed in a public health laboratory. His statements came as protestors occupied streets and remained defiant until their demands are implemented. [20], A September 2016 report published by Amnesty International detailed extensive torture and detainment without trial. On 9 October in Ogbomosho in Oyo State, a protestor named Jimoh Isiaq was shot dead by police officers while participating in the #EndSARS protests. [7][9] After two weeks of dialogue, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force came to an understanding, and official police duties resumed in Lagos. Several young people were injured and their cars damaged, while others were brutalized by police officers in police stations. There have been 2 self-limiting SARS outbreaks, which resulted in a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening form of pneumonia. Physical address: 2nd floor, SARS Pretoria CBD branch, C/o Lillian Ngoyi and Francis Baard Streets. In Lagos, protestors marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly to demand an end to SARS. Pretoria, 0002. [18], Following several reports of human rights violations submitted by members of the public to the office of the Inspector General of Police, on 7 August 2015, the then-Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase announced he would split the SARS unit into two units—an operational unit and an investigations unit—in order to curtail cases of human rights violations. Moshood also called for the campaigners to come forward so that SARS could investigate them. We are currently working on resolving the matter and will advise once the problem has been resolved. In Benin City, police tear-gassed protestors and arrested some and charged them with treason and attempted murder. Source: LOINC. Once it binds … Operatives were not allowed to wear a police uniform or publicly carry guns or walkie-talkies, and were given unmarked vehicles that sometimes had no license plates or private plate numbers during duty. The unit was centralized from the force headquarters in Abuja since its inception; the IGP also stated that the DIG of Force Criminal Investigations Department and Commissioners of Police in each state would be held accountable for actions of the SARS.[39][40]. On 18 October 2020, the Nigerian Army announced its annual training exercise "Operation Crocodile Smile VI", a program which included a cyber warfare exercise component that sought to identify, track, and counter "negative comments on social media across the country". According to the SARS officer, the teen was mistaken for a kidnapper. In Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Benin City, Edo State, thousands of Nigerian youths marched in solidarity asking the government to end police brutality. Background Universal screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection on Labor and Delivery (L&D) units is a critical strategy to manage patient and health worker safety, especially in a vulnerable high-prevalence community. A motion was passed and agreed on by legislators who voted in favour of the protestors to end SARS and sent the recommendations of the House to the Federal Government. Copyright © 2020 Regenstrief Institute, Inc. All Rights Reserved. [21], On 10 August 2019, while SARS operatives were on a raid in Ijegun to arrest kidnappers in the area, several shots were fired in an attempt to subdue the kidnappers; one of these shots hit a pregnant woman who was reportedly killed instantly. The CDC recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 testing have been developed based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and are subject to change as additional information becomes available. [citation needed], At the time, SARS was one of the fourteen units in the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department,[10] and was established to detain, investigate, and prosecute those involved in violent crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping. Within a short time, a growing number of patients who had not been exposed to animal markets were diagnosed with the infection, indicating person-to-person transmission. Telephone number: (012) 483 1700. As of January 2020, infections with 2019-nCoV have been reported internationally, including Thailand and the United States, in due to confirmed cases in travelers from Wuhan. Postal address: Tax Exemption Unit. The first COVID-19 patient was reported on January 22, 2020, and the last patient was reported on March 16, 2020 ().Given the total of 147 reported cases, Guizhou is one of the five provinces with the lowest number of COVID-19 patients in China (the other four are Xizang, Qinghai, Ninxia, and Xinjiang) (China, 2020b; Province, 2020). On 16 October, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey revealed a new #ENDSARS emoji on Twitter that carries the colors of the Nigerian flag that is added to tweets whenever the hashtag #EndSARS is used as a sign of support for Nigerian protestors. [53][60][62], On 22 October 2020, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed in a publicly-aired address that SARS had been dismantled and also accused some members of SARS of committing "acts of excessive force" when the unit was operational. The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was a Nigerian Police Force unit created in late 1992 to deal with crimes associated with robbery, motor vehicle theft, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and firearms. Coronaviruses commonly cause infections in both humans and animals. The Sars rogue unit was high technology intelligence structure with investigative and spy equipment sometimes greater than state security. [35] After the order, the IGP announced that the unit would be renamed the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad,[36] a new head of the unit would be appointed, and the provision of human rights desk officers to check reports. [7] Three police anti-robbery squads (the first of which was established in 1984) were already operating at that time, so Midenda needed to distinguish his squad from the existing teams. Legal services were acquired and doctors were deployed on ground to administer first aid to protestors. [37][38], On 21 January 2019, IGP Mohammed Adamu ordered the immediate decentralization of SARS. The acting president ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Kpotun Idris to reform SARS and carry out an independent investigation after "persistent complaints and reports" concerning human rights violations. The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a coronavirus first identified as the cause of a respiratory illness outbreak in Wuhan, China. [34], On 14 August 2018, the Acting President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo ordered with immediate effect the "overhaul" of SARS following reports of human rights violation. 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