The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has put an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Police, in one of the rarest positive response to mass protests by citizens.
It happened on the day a mass of persons stormed the Police headquarters in Abuja calling for the disbandment of the dreaded police squad that has often been accused of extra-judicial killings, extortion, ill-treatment of citizens, among other professional misconducts.
Meanwhile, the The All Progressives Congress (APC) has welcomed the disbandment of SARS and views the responsive decision as a major and concrete step towards President Muhammadu Buhari affirmed resolve to achieve better policing and necessary reforms.
Raging protests across the country in recent days has led to violence and deaths among the policemen containing the protests.
On Sunday, Force Police spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, in a statement announced the disbandment of the squad after Adamu first disclosed it to journalists.
His statement reads: “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 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.”
The APC spokesman, Mr. Yekini Nabena, noted that from the recent #BlackLivesMatter social movement to other global clamours for review of Police operations, particularly in regard to citizens they are empowered to protect, the need for Police reforms in Nigeria is urgent and continuous.
“With benefit of experience and public outcry over the operations of the now disbanded SARS, the APC is confident that the new policing arrangement promised by the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed will balance the need to effectively combat armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country and ensure humane, professional and accountable police operations.
“We call on Nigerians to take advantage of the Citizens’ and Strategic Stakeholders’ Forum which is being formed to regularly interface with Police leadership at all levels and advise on police activities as they affect the general public”
