BREAKING: Police IG dissolves SARS
The Inspector-General of Police Muhammed Adamu has disbanded the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Adamu said the government did so ” in the finest spirit of democratic, citizen-centred and community policing”.
The announcement follows days of anti-SARS protests across Nigeria.
SARS, a highly-trained police unit originally set up to combat crime, became notorious for armed robbery, bribery, illegal arrests, extortion and extra-judicial killings.
With SARS now dissolved, all officers serving within the unit are to be redeployed with immediate effect, Adamu told journalists in Abuja on Sunday afternoon.
Here is the police statement on the dissolution of SARS:
PRESS RELEASEIGP DISSOLVES THE SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD (SARS)
In the finest spirit of democratic, citizen-centred and community policing, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M. A. Adamu, 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, 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.
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.
He assures 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, 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 bequeath to the country a Police Force and System that is professional in service delivery and most importantly, accountable to the people.
DCP FRANK MBA
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERSABUJA
