President panel indicts 16 SARS operatives for killings

Etim Ekpimah 

Sixteen operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have been indicted by the Presidential Panel on SARS for committing extrajudicial killings in five states of the federation and Abuja. 

The 16 operatives were accused by the panel on the grounds of death in police custody, unlawful arrest, biased investigation, unlawful intimidation, harassment, criminal assault, torture, cruelty, inhuman and degrading treatment, threat to life, extortion and confiscation of property, and more. 

The act of gross misconduct by these operatives were carried out across five states – Lagos, Kaduna, Imo, Delta and Enugu, and the FCT. 

The Police officers indicted for extrajudicial killings among other allegations, are ASP Columbus Aniozor, Inspector Nwachukwu, Inspector Ndidi Nwaneri, Inspector Femi, CSP Godfrey Ogbeide Victor (OC SARS, Imo), ASP Banjoko (OC SARS, Akokowa, Imo State) and Corporal Echara Alice. 

The five indicted for extrajudicial killings in Abuja are Inspector Augustine Nwobodo, Sgt Nuhu Shuaibu, Cpt Mohammed Tetengi, Inspector Dennis Matthew and ASP Felix Onuoha. 

Inspector Akeem Balogun was indicted for killing in Lagos State, while two others, Inspector Ibukun Olusoga, and ASP Columbus, were indicted for enforced disappearance. 

Sergeant Paul Everest was indicted for alleged torture leading to death in custody in Enugu State, while ASP Muyiwa was indicted for unlawful arrest, detention, and extrajudicial killing in Delta State. 

Inspector Yakubu Baba in Kaduna State, was indicted for torture, violation of the right to life and dignity of the human person, while the trio of Nwobodo, Shuaibu and Tentegi were also accused of refusal to release the corpses of the victims.