The Federal Government have given a presidential directive to the Nigeria Police Force to dissolve the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with immediate effect.
This was made known in a tweet on its official Twitter account. It read;
“PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE: The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force @PoliceNG has been dissolved WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
The Inspector General of Police will communicate further developments in this regard.”
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, has dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the 36 State Police Commands and the FCT.
This was made known today, Sunday October 11, in a statement released by Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank MBA.
The statement 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, 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 noted that the dissolution of SARS is in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian people, observing that by the dissolution, all officers and men of the now defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad are being redeployed with immediate effect.
The IGP also noted 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 has been evolved and shall be announced in due course.
He also stated that 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.
The IGP further stated that 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 statement read.
