UK Member Of Parliament Questions SARS Funding

Amid the call for an end to the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a Member of the UK Parliament, Kate Osamor, has written to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Dominic Raab, to question the funding by the UK Government to the defunct unit.

The letter dates October 15 detailed the use of brute force, torture, and extrajudicial killings meted on Nigerians by the defunct unit.

Osamor, in the letter, sought "clarification regarding the Conflict Stability and Security Fund project in Nigeria which is aimed at ‘increasing the capacity of the Nigeria kidnap units to deliver anti-kidnap and kidnap response capacity.”

The letter read, “I am writing as a member of the International Development and Select Committee and Chair of the Nigeria APPG to ask for some clarification regarding the Conflict Stability and Security Fund project in Nigeria which is aimed at ‘increasing the capacity of the Nigeria kidnap units to deliver anti-kidnap and kidnap response capacity.

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“I’m sure you will be aware of the recent protests against Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which has been involved in at least 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extrajudicial executions since January 2017.

“Given these concerns and concerns generally with the nature of corruption and brutality in Nigeria law enforcement, it is obviously extremely important that no UK development spending finds its way into the pocket of groups within Nigeria who are guilty of such crimes.” 

“For that reason, I am very concerned about the UK development funds which have been invested in the “Nigeria Countering Organised Crime and Corruption” project and the lack of transparency when it comes to this project. In the right of the lack of detail provided and the circumstances in Nigeria, there is a high risk that the NCA is providing support two units implicated in the abuses I’ve mentioned above.  I would therefore be grateful if you could confirm whether any funding or other kinds of support have, directly or indirectly been given to the SARS unit."