By ADELANI ADEPEGBA, Abuja

Amnesty International has criticized the police for allegedly failing to prosecute members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad whom it accused of engaging in torture of suspects.

The group noted that the squad had continued to use torture and other ill-treatment to execute, punish, and extract information from suspects.

In a new report, ‘Time to End Impunity,’ released on Thursday, AI said it documented at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment, and extra-judicial executions by SARS between January 2017 and May 2020.

It said the victims are predominantly males between the ages of 18 and 35, from low-income backgrounds and vulnerable groups.

The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, said in a statement, “The complete failure of Nigerian authorities to bring an end to the gross human rights violations perpetrated by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad or to bring any SARS officer to justice is shocking and unacceptable.”

She added, “Nigerians are outraged by the systemic human rights violations perpetrated by the SARS with impunity. The systemic use of torture and other ill-treatment by SARS officers for police investigations and the continued existence of torture chambers within the Nigerian Police Force points to an absolute disregard for international human rights laws and standards.”

Amnesty International said its investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse of detainees in SARS custody despite the 2017 Anti-Torture Act.

In many cases, the group said it bore witness to the scars, bruises, and dried blood on victims’ bodies, noting that many of them were subjected to beatings with sticks and machetes and denied medical care.

The force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, could not be reached for comment. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy The Punch)

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