The inspector-general of Police, Mohammed Adamu has announced the immediate disbandment of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) following nationwide protests over its brutality.
He made the
announcement at a press conference on Sunday afternoon in Abuja.
In a statement after
the media briefing, Frank Mba, police spokesman, said a new policing
arrangement will be announced to fill in the gaps created by the scrapping of
SARS.
”In the finest spirit
of democratic, citizen-centred and community policing, the Inspector-General of
Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has today, 11th October, 2020, dissolved the
Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the 36 State Police Commands and the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where they hitherto existed”, the statement read.
”The IGP, while noting
that the dissolution of SARS is in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian
people, observes that by this dissolution, all officers and men of the now
defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad are being redeployed with immediate effect.
”The IGP notes that
the Force is not oblivious of the ever present need to combat armed robbery,
kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country which was before now the
core mandate of the erstwhile Squad. He assures that a new policing arrangement
to address anticipated policing gaps the dissolution of SARS would cause has
been evolved and shall be announced in due course.
”Meanwhile, as part of
measures to prevent a re-occurrence of events that gave rise to the dissolution
of SARS, a Citizens’ and Strategic Stakeholders’ Forum is being formed to
regularly interface with Police leadership at all levels and advise on police
activities as they affect the general public.
”In addition, the
Force is constituting an Investigation Team which shall include Civil Society
Organizations and Human Rights Bodies to work with the Police in investigating
alleged cases of human rights violations. The measure, the IGP believes, will
enhance transparency and accountability in police services as well as providing
a system of deterrence for erring police officers whose action clearly violates
the rights of the citizenry.
”The IGP appreciates
and commends all citizens particularly those who genuinely express their
concerns for a better policing orientation in an organized, patriotic and civil
manner. He reaffirms the determination of the Force to bequeath to the country
a Police Force and System that is professional in service delivery and most
importantly, accountable to the people.
There have been
protests across the country demanding the end of the police unit which is
notorious for human rights violations.
Owing to the mass outrage, the IGP had banned operatives
of SARS, the Special Tactical Squad (STS) and Intelligence Response Team (IRT)
from undertaking routine patrols as well as stop and search duties.
The IGP also promised
to reform SARS.
But Nigerians were not
pacified by this owing to similar promises of reforming the unit in the past
which failed.
Citizens persisted in
protests which soon gained global attention as world figures and celebrities
joined in.
The police unleashed
violence on citizens protesting against police brutality. At least one protester,
Jimoh Isiaq was killed in Ogbomosho in Oyo state on Saturday.
The police also dispersed a crowd of protesters
in Abuja with live bullets, water cannons and tear gas on Sunday.
·
Source:
https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-igp-finally-disbands-sars
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