A rights group, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for urgent police reforms, accountability for officers accused of human rights violations and justice for victims, six years after the #EndSARS protests.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, to mark the sixth anniversary of the protests, RULAAC said the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) had not fundamentally addressed police brutality, unlawful detention, torture, extortion and extrajudicial killings in the country.
The organisation said allegations of human rights abuses continued to emerge from conventional police formations and specialised tactical units, warning that the gap between announced reforms and their implementation remained wide.
RULAAC recalled that the October 2020 protests were triggered by years of police abuses and public frustration over the failure of authorities to hold officers accountable.
It said although the government disbanded SARS, acknowledged protesters’ demands and established judicial panels of inquiry in several states, implementation of the panels’ recommendations had remained inadequate.
The organisation called for the publication of outstanding panel reports and a transparent account of compensation, disciplinary actions, prosecutions and institutional reforms arising from the investigations.
It also demanded an audit of former SARS personnel to establish how many were investigated, disciplined, dismissed or prosecuted, and whether officers implicated in serious violations were redeployed to other police formations.
The statement raised concerns over the continued failure to implement existing laws, including the Police Act 2020 and the Anti-Torture Act 2017, citing alleged unlawful arrests, prolonged detention, denial of access to lawyers and relatives, torture and extortion.
RULAAC also highlighted the experiences of survivors of alleged police brutality, including Ngozichukwu, who it said obtained a court judgment against the police over violations of her fundamental rights but had yet to receive the compensation awarded.
The organisation urged the Inspector-General of Police and other responsible authorities to ensure full compliance with the judgment.
It further called for independent investigations into allegations of abuse involving specialised police formations, including Tiger Base in Owerri.
RULAAC cited findings from a coroner’s inquest into the death of Japheth Njoku, issued on September 30, 2026, which it said identified serious misconduct connected with his detention at Tiger Base and recommended accountability measures against implicated personnel.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Boko Haram Strikes Yobe, Kills Soldiers, Forest Guard
The group urged authorities to implement the coroner’s recommendations, including further investigations and prosecution where supported by evidence.
On police accountability, RULAAC called for stronger civilian oversight, independent investigations of serious complaints, reliable electronic custody records, mandatory notification of arrests and transfers, access to legal representation and independent medical examinations for detainees.
It also urged the government to improve police welfare, including remuneration, accommodation, healthcare, insurance, training and psychological support, while insisting that poor working conditions could not justify abuses.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, the National Assembly, the National Human Rights Commission and state governments must establish a coordinated, time-bound police reform programme with measurable targets and regular public reporting.
“The anniversary should serve as a reminder that #EndSARS was not merely a demand to abolish one police unit, but a call to end a culture of impunity.
“RULAAC calls on the authorities to ensure that citizens are protected, officers who violate the law are held accountable, court judgments are obeyed and victims receive justice,” he said.
