Nigerian government bows to pressure, disbands SARS

Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, has been disbanded.

Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police, made the announcement on Sunday afternoon.

This follows days of a nationwide protest against the police operation.

Nigerians, mostly the youths, had taken to the streets of major cities to protest SARS’ brutality while the hashtag “ENDSARS” has trended for days on social media.

But disbanding the unit on Sunday, the IGP ordered all officers and men of the now-defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad to be redeployed with immediate effect.

According to the Adamu, the dissolution of SARS was in response to the yearnings of Nigerians.

The IGP noted that the Force was 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 assured 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, the IG said, “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 maintain law and order across the country.

Source: Daily Post