Beyoncé, Rihanna, and more celebrities lift calls to end SARS, police violence in Nigeria

Nigerians have spent weeks protesting the country's Special Anti-Robbery Squad, also known as SARS, for years of alleged abuse, torture, and killings — and American celebrities are taking notice.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Beyoncé announced she was partnering with youth organizations behind the protests and working to provide emergency relief for protesters.

Rihanna, Burna Boy, Chance the Rapper and others also called for the end of SARS with tweets of their own.

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Nigeria's president announced he would disband SARS earlier this month, but protesters are still demanding justice for SARS' abuses and opposing the redistribution of officers to other police forces. At least 15 protesters have died in recent weeks as they faced government pushback, Amnesty International estimates.