So how do you actually end SARS? This a LOT harder than people think and will involve an incredible amount of work. But these protests have presented an opportunity to get it done that is better than previous opportunities

Again, SARS is the textbook definition of a rogue unit. It ought to be painfully clear to anyone watching this drama that the Inspector General of Police has zero control over them. He doesn’t even know how many of his men are in SARS

Not long after the IG announced he was ‘replacing’ SARS with the brand new never before seen SWAT, internet archaeologists dug up these

The reason he’s doing this is because he’s trying to send a signal to the SARS men he has no control over that they can change everything without changing anything

So what are the options? I can think of 2 and neither of them is palatable at all.

Option 1 - The IG sets up a handpicked team of officers he trusts to physically disarm SARS. Offer them an olive branch that anyone who voluntarily leaves the unit will not lose his job. But if they don’t, force will be used and prosecution will follow

The problems with this are obvious. It will cost him an incredible amount of goodwill (which he may not have but he’s leaving next year anyway). The spectre of police having a shootout with police is better than imagined than seen

Option 2 - Sai Baba sends in the Army to physically disband SARS. Give a short time period for them to disband and if they don’t, the Army uses force to do it. Same problems as Option 1 - Army shooting at Police is - to put it mildly - not very nice

Maybe there are other options and I hope there are. But it’s clear to me these guys have no intention of going anywhere.

This is what happens when you leave a problem to fester for so long. Eventually things will have to come to a head.

Finally, there’s one more option.

Pretend to solve the problem. Things quieten down a bit. Then in 6 months time, SARS kill someone again with impunity and then we do this all over again

P.S Forgot to mention - there is of course an incredible amount of money at stake. All those laptops they steal, the dollars and Bitcoin they collect and the naira they extort comes to a lot. Apparently there’s a calculation that puts SARS monthly loot at ~$7m