Nigeria scraps anti-robbery squad amid protests

Abuja,

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has dissolved the country's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) following public outcry over extrajudicial dealings.

Mr Mohammed Adamu made the announcement on Sunday, days after a series of protests for scrapping of the 30,000-officer unit.

“SARS is hereby dissolved across all formations, the 36-state police command and the Federal Capital Territory, where it currently exists,” the IGP said.

Mr Adamu pledged that a new policing arrangement to address anticipated policing gaps will be announced in due course.

According to him, as part of measures to prevent a recurrence of events that gave rise to the dissolution of SARS, a Citizens and Strategic Stakeholders Forum is being formed.

He said the forum will regularly interface with police leadership at all levels and give advice on police activities as they affect the general public.

“In addition, the force is constituting an investigation team, which shall include civil society and human rights organisations, to work with the police in investigating alleged cases of human rights violations.

“The measure will enhance transparency and accountability in police services as well as provide a system of deterrence for erring police officers whose actions clearly violate the rights of citizens,” he said.

People's desires

Mr Adamu praised Nigerians, who genuinely expressed concerns for a better policing orientation in an organised, patriotic and civil manner, and noted commitment to an accountable and professional force.

Amplifying the IGP’s announcement,  Force Public Relations Officer Frank Mba, said "the dissolution of SARS is in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian people”.

Nigerians, especially those in the southern states, have been calling for the scrapping of the unit which they accuse of brutality, extortion, killings and inimical to human rights. The protests were fuelled by social media campaigns against the outfit.

But the announcement of the scrapping came as youths in Katsina, Zamfara and Kano states in the north hit the streets in support of the unit, saying it should be reformed instead of being scrapped. They said SARS had been helping in the fight against banditry and other crimes.

Some non-governmental organisations in Zamfara have also staged peaceful protests in support of SARS.

Mr Abdullahi Ali, leader of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Kano, and Arewa Youth Consultative Council, a socio-political body of the 19 northern states, also called for reforms and reorganisation.

A statement signed by the latter's National Media Coordinator, Mr Muhammad Ibrahim, said they were uncomfortable with the call for the scrapping of a unit that fights robbers as Nigeria battles robberies, kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling and ethnic violence.

"Some members of SARS may be accused of theft, rape, torture, unlawful arrests, extortion and even killings. No law enforcement agency is 100 per cent clean.," he said.

"If we have to be highly rational and reasonable, instead of scrapping SARS and ending up with security deterioration and wastage of billions setting up and training another unit, why don’t we chew the bitter pills and spit out the waste while redesigning a structural strategy for effectiveness, resourcefulness for efficiency?"

Country's stability

Another socio-political group in Bauchi, Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN), noted the need to keep the country peaceful and stable.

Mr Ukkasha Hamza, the speaker of the group, said on Sunday that SARS plays a significant role in promotion of security especially along the highways.

He said the outfit needs reforms to operate and conform with rules of engagements as well the contemporary democratic ideals and the people's fundamental rights.

President Muhammadu Buhari summoned the IG on Friday night over the nationwide protests.