Buhari told to disband SARS for terrorising Nigerians

A Civil Society Organisation, CSO, on Saturday, called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

The CSO, Centre for Advancement of Civil Liberties and Development, made the call while condemning the attack on Nigerians by SARS operatives.

It also urged the Federal government to release all those arrested by SARS operatives across the country.

The call was made in a statement jointly signed by co-conveners of the group namely: Adebayo Raphael, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, and Deji Adeyanju.

According to the group, disbanding SARS was the only way to stop these police operatives from “terrorising” Nigerians.

The statement reads: “We condemn in its totality, the resurgence of unprovoked and unjustified violence of operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on Nigerian citizens, especially the youths in different parts of the country.

“We have watched with disdain, the several clips of SARS brutality populating different social media platforms, and how the operatives of this Police Unit — legitimately constituted to combat crime and ensure the safety of the people — have now become agents of terror and unwarranted brutality and abuse to Nigerian youths.

“In line with Chapter II, Section 14 (2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, it is clear to us and the majority of Nigerians that this police unit has failed to prioritize the security of the Nigerian people, but has rather become a bane to our nation’s security and a monstrous threat to the safety of the Nigerian people.

“It is on this basis that we declare, therefore, that the Federal Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must act immediately and decisively to shut down this unit of the Nigeria Police Force and ensure that it henceforth ceases to exist in our country.

“In addition, the Federal Government must order the immediate and unconditional release of all innocent citizens who have been unjustly incarcerated by this unit and compensate them accordingly.

“Further, the Federal Government must immediately order an independent inquiry into the rogue activities of SARS operatives in the last one year and punish any and every operative found guilty of extortion, abuse of Nigerian citizens and execution or killing of any innocent citizen within the said timeframe.

“Our hope is that the Federal Government will side with the Nigerian people, and not this rogue unit terrorizing Nigerians with unbridled impunity. The Nigerian Police Force can only become an institution that protects the Nigerian people when it is free of anti-people and anti-democratic elements like the operatives in the SARS unit.”

Meanwhile, SARS operatives had on Saturday killed a young man in Ughelli, Delta State.

The operatives allegedly shot the citizen and left the scene.

A trending footage shows them spending off in the victim’s vehicle – a white Lexus SUV.

SARS is a dreaded Police unit that has repeatedly harassed and killed Nigerians.

In most cases, the culprits are never arrested or prosecuted.

Their activities have triggered protested off and on social media (#EndSARS), with many Nigerian clamouring for a scrap of the department.

In August 2018, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, as the Acting President, ordered for Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to overhaul SARS management and activities.

Osinbajo order that the unit that will emerge from the process, must be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences.

Laolu Akande, his spokesman, in a statement, said the order followed persistent complaints and reports of human rights violations by SARS.

Osinbajo further directed the Police to “ensure that all operatives in the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects. The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.”

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