Nigeria demobilized the special police force at the center of protests against police brutality.
The government announced that a special presidential directive sanctioned the immediate negation of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Protests against the squad were provoked by a video of a man allegedly being killed by police.
The demonstrations expanded despite a crackdown and spread outside the country. The presidency said that a new arrangement to replace the squad is being processed.
Nigeria's chief of police said that a team of investigators, including civil society organizations and human rights bodies, would be set up to investigate alleged abuses by SARS.
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President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier said he was determined to end police brutality, introduce reforms and bring "erring personnel... to justice", according to BBC.
Protesters demanded to dissolve the unit rather than reformed because previous commitments to change police behavior did not work.
While the hashtag #EndSARS has been trending in Nigeria and globally, with demonstrations are spreading to the UK and Canada.
Celebrities including the Nigerian superstars Wizkid and Davido backed the protests on social media.
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