IGP Muhammed Adamu

**** Redeploys men to other Areas of Policing.

**** Emplaces other measures to protect the citizens.

By Festus Fifen.

After days of protest and agitations coming from different school of thought and non Governmental Organisations in Nigeria against the excesses of the men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad popularly known as  SARS, The Nigeria Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu In the finest spirit of democratic, citizen-centred and community policing strategy 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.

IGP Mohamed Adamu made this known while briefing Journalist at the Force Headquarter Abuja, the Nigeria Capital.

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.

According to IGP Adamu, ” The current Development in which a cross section of Nigerians are calling for the scrapping of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad as a unit in the Nigeria Police Force has remained under constant monitoring and due assessment by the government

“The Government acknowledges the inalienable rights of citizens to freedom of Association and expression. The current agitation in this context is seen as a manifestation of the natural desire of citizens to participate in matters concerning policing and internal security in the nation. This is indeed one of the fundermental principles of community policing , which we are currently Implementing”

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.