Joy Anyim
Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the immediate dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in all the 36 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.
The directive by the IGP followed days of protest by Nigerians, demanding an end to the dreaded police unit.
According to the IGP in a statement on Sunday, all operatives in the unit are to be redeployed with immediate effect.
The statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, read: “ In the finest spirit of democratic, citizen-centred and community policing, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has today, October 11, 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. ”
Adamu assured that a new policing arrangement to address anticipated policing gaps the dissolution of SARS would cause has also been evolved and shall be announced in due course.
He further stated that 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 statement said.
The IGP commended all citizens particularly those who genuinely expressed their concerns for a better policing orientation in an organized, patriotic and civil manner.
He reaffirmed 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.
Recall that political leaders, clerics, young and old had taken to the streets, and various social media platforms with the hashtag #EndSARS,, to protest brutality, impunity, and extortion perpetrated by some operatives of the unit.