Again, Nigerian Government dissolves Special Anti-Robbery Squad

Yanju Uwala in Abeokuta

The Nigerian Government on Sunday dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the 36 State Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where they hitherto existed, a development said to be the fourth since the creation of the squad

Penpushing reports that the dissolution of the squad was made known by the Inspector General of Police, Muhammad Adam, explaining that this was done in the finest spirit of democratic, citizen-centred and community policing.

The police boss in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba disclosed that all officers and men of the now defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad are being redeployed with immediate effect.

‘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’, Mba stated.

‘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’.

Penpushing further reports that,Adamu assured that a new policing arrangement to address anticipated policing gaps the dissolution of Special Anti-Robbery Squad( SARS) would cause has been evolved and shall be announced in due course.

The statement explained that, as part of measures to prevent a re-occurrence of events that gave rise to the dissolution of  the security body, 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.

Penpushing also reports that, 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’, Mba stated.

The statement added that the police leadership appreciates and commends all citizens particularly those who genuinely express their concerns for a better policing orientation in an organized, patriotic and civil manner.

Penpushing reports that, the statement added that, the Inspector General of Police 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.