Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the controversy surrounding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force.
In a series of tweets on Saturday, he said that from a tactical unit set up to confront violent crimes, SARS has morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses who strive every day for a better life.
Atiku, whose son got wedded Saturday, stated this as #EndSARS, a social media campaign started to draw attention to the tactical unit’s excesses, trended on Twitter.
The unit got pilloried after videos emerged of some of its operatives in Delta State shooting a young man and fleeing in his white Lexus SUV.
In an apparent reaction, Atiku wrote, “The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the @PoliceNG was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes.
“However, the unit has today morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses who strive every day for a better life.
“Reports of intimidation, harassment and outright extortion by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have continued unabated.
“I strongly condemn their cruel actions against our people, and I urge the government to rise to the occasion and nip this monstrosity in the bud with the seriousness it deserves.
“It is expedient that the activities of SARS are reviewed to ensure that the rogue elements are excised from the unit and sanity returned to its operations.”
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