By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The cries and tears of Nigerians on social media which bought about he #EndSARS campaign have finally reached and flowed to the presidency as the Acting President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, has directed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, to carry out a complete reform of the management and activities of the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police.
This information was confirmed by spokesman of the Acting President, Mr Laolu Akande, in a statement signed by him.
Mr Osinbajo said the ‘new SARS’ must be intelligence-driven and limited only to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences.
Nigerians had accused SARS of harassment, extortion, robbery, assault and sometimes extra-judicial killings.
They claimed SARS operatives make it a criminal offence for anyone to look good or have high-end mobile phones of laptops.
In the statement issued by Mr Akande, it was disclosed that the police chief was ordered to carry out the reform “with immediate effect.”
“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,” the statement read.
Adedapo Adesanya