ENDSARS: Nigeria to Disband SARS Police Accused of Killings and Brutality
- Finally, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a Nigerian police unit, has been scrapped by the IGP, Mohammed Adamu
- The IGP said operatives of the defunct SARS are now being redeployed with immediate effect
- Adamu added that measures are being put in place to avoid a reoccurrence of police brutality and other factors that led to the disbandment of SARS
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The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has announced the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.
The announcement of the dissolution of the police unit came after days of #EndSARS online and offline protests by Nigerians against the brutality and extra-judicial killings by SARS operatives nationwide.
The IGP's disbandment of the special squad is contained in a statement made available by police spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, on Sunday, October 11.
Source: Original
According to the statement, all SARS officers are now being redeployed with immediate effect.
Also, to avoid a reoccurrence of police brutality and other ugly incidents that led to the dissolution SARS, the IGP said a forum is being formed to regularly interface with the police leadership at all levels and advise on police activities as they affect the general public.
The police boss added 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.
Adamu commended Nigerians, particularly the youth, whom he said express their genuine concerns for a better policing orientation in an organized, patriotic and civil manner.
Earlier, the IGP had announced the ban of the police unit from routine road search. The #EndSARS protesters, however, insisted that the special squad must be scrapped completely.
Read the full statement below:
IGP DISSOLVES THE SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD (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 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.
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Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari had been briefed on the ongoing protest by the Nigerian youths against the brutality of the SARS operatives.
Bashir Ahmad, an aide to the president on new media, made this known on Friday, October 9, amid nationwide demonstration against the age-long police brutality.
Nigerian youths including celebrities have all been involved in the protests against the brutal activities of the SARS officers across the country.
Meanwhile, the protesters are still on the street on Monday, October 12, insisting, among other things, that the government must compensate the victims of the brutality and extortion perpetrated by the SARS officers.
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Source: Legit.ng
