Etim Ekpimah
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, has said that the police cannot end the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a special arm of the Force, owing to the ongoing fight against crimes in the country.
Speaking on Tuesday during an Instagram Live Chat with Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as ‘Naira Marley,’ Mba advised Nigerians to take video recordings of SARS operatives, who abuse their fundamental human rights but should be mindful of where they stand to take the recording to avoid being abused by the same people.
He, however, admitted that the Nigeria Police is undergoing a serious reformation in the operations of FSARS nationwide to curb its excesses.
It was reported that the singer had planned a protest against FSARS’ recklessness and malfeasants but was cancelled for a reason known only to the artiste.
There has been renewed outrage across the country over the harassment, extortion and extra-judicial killings of innocent Nigerians by FSARS operatives, with the #EndSARSNotBanSARS hashtag trending on social media.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had in a swift reaction banned FSARS personnel from engaging in routine patrols, stop-and-search, mounting of roadblocks and traffic checks with immediate effect.
He said, “What we need to do is to reform SARS and make them responsive, responsible and make them to work in accordance with laid down procedures. We need them to continue to respond to violent crimes. We need them to continue to respond to armed robberies. We need them to continue to respond to kidnappings.”
Also, Naira Marley agreed that the special arm of the Police should not be scrapped but be reformed.
You talk about #EndSARS, you cannot end SARS but let us ask for reform. Why do you want to end SARS? Are you an armed robber?” he told his followers.
He, however, stressed on the need to get SARS operatives off the roads. According to him, “SARS is a special arm that should only come out during robbery incidents.”
He advised those exhuming old videos of SARS harassment to desist from such act as it heats up the society.
He also urged the Police to give an update on SARS operatives that have been arrested and what has been done to compensate the families of the victims allegedly killed by SARS officers.
Earlier, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said SARS operatives in the state no longer have the authority to unilaterally detain suspects.