Nigerians can finally hope for good policing as Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to “overhaul the management and activities” of dreaded police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Over the past few months, the Nigerian plebeian, as well as celebrities, have taken to social media to vent their anger on the overbearing injustice and high-handedness meted on them by the SARS.
Some have gone ahead to accuse the officers of the unit of several misconducts including, but not limited to harassment, extortion, assault, extra-judicial killings, etc.
In a statement issued by Osinbajo’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande, the Acting President ordered the IGP to shut down the unit “with immediate effect”.
The statement read, “Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Acting-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.”
Details later.
Read also:
Court dismisses murder charge filed against Lagos State PDP Chairman
FIFA says Nigeria, Ghana risk being suspended over federation leadership crisis