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#EndSARSnow: IGP dissolves the Special Anti-Robbery Squad
BY KAZIE UKO
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the federation, following the #EndSARSnow nationwide protests.
The dissolution came amid public anger, demonstrated in days of street and online media protests against the operation of men of the SARS by Nigerians, especially the youths, who accuse the special force of extra judicial killings and other crimes that impinged the citizens’ fundamental human rights, using the hashtag, EndSARSnow.
A statement issued today, October 11, 2020, by police spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, said the dissolution was “in the finest spirit of democratic, citizen-centred and community policing”.
Mba, while acknowledging that the disbanding of SARS was in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian people, noted that by the dissolution, “all officers and men of the now defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad are being re-deployed with immediate effect.”
According to the statement, “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.”
READ: IGP bans FSARS, other police tactical squads from routine patrols, checkpoints
Meanwhile, as part of measures to prevent a re-occurrence of events that gave rise to the dissolution of SARS, the police spokesman said a Citizens’ and Strategic Stakeholders’ Forum was 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 organised, 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,” the statement concluded.