SARS, brainchild of PDP, says APC

Ex-VP Atiku calls for throwing open SARS ‘dreaded’ cells

THE spokesman for the ruling All Progressives Congress has pointed accusing finger at the main opposition party, People’s Democratic Party for creating the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police which was scrapped by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, yesterday.

The ruling party noted that SARS was a brainchild of the PDP, adding that President Buhari should be commended for disbanding it.

The spokesman for the APC, Yekini Nabena, said this in a series of tweets on Sunday while reacting to the scrap of the police outfit.

“Who created SARS? PDP,” Nabena tweeted.

Nabena, in a further statement signed on behalf of the APC, said the scrapping of SARS showed the resolve of President Buhari to ensure police reforms.

He, therefore, called on civil society organisations and Nigerians as a whole to work with the IG to ensure that the reforms are holistic.

The APC spokesman wrote, “The APC welcomes the disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad and views the responsive decision as a major and concrete step towards. President Muhammadu Buhari affirmed resolve to achieve better policing and necessary reforms.

“From the recent #BlackLivesMatter social movement to other global clamours for review of police operations particularly in regard to citizens they are empowered to protect, the need for police reforms in Nigeria is urgent and continuous.

“With benefit of experience and public outcry over the operations of the now disbanded SARS, the APC is confident that the new policing arrangement promised by the Inspector-General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, will balance the need to effectively combat armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country and ensure humane, professional and accountable police operations.

“We call on Nigerians to take advantage of the citizens’ and strategic stakeholders’ forum which is being formed to regularly interface with Police leadership at all levels and advise on police activities as they affect the general public.”

Former Vice-President ATIKU Abubakar, has, however, said disbanding SARS is a step in the right direction as it will afford Nigeria the opportunity to start on a clean sheet to envision an elite police unit.

Atiku, however, sounded a note of warning that the disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) must be properly retrained before they are being redeployed to other units of the police force.

In a statement by Paul Ibe, his spokesman, Atiku said while the move is worthy of commendation, measures must be put in place to ensure the “bad eggs” among those affected do not “pollute” other police units they will be deployed to.

He added that such measure would ensure “that they do not come into their new assignments with the same mindset for which the disbanded unit was notorious for.”

The former vice-president also said it is unfortunate that youths in the country have continued to suffer harassment and brutality of all kinds.

“This was the right thing to do. A system that brutally eliminates our youths is not one to hold on to, and neither can we be proud of it,” the ex-VP said.

“Now we can start on a clean sheet to envision an elite police unit similar to the SWAT and a comprehensive overhaul of the police and policing system that is people-focused.”

Abubakar also advocated an independent judicial inquiry into the activities of SARS that will ensure justice for victims of extrajudicial killings and punishment for officers involved in such dastardly acts.

He further suggested the opening of the “dreaded” SARS cells for “scrutiny and stock taking” of detainees.

According to him, the dissolution of SARS should facilitate a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s police to one which would adequately represent the needs of regional, state and council components.

He commended youths who defied the odds to facilitate the disbandment of SARS, adding that with such energy and unity, they can bring about the needed change in the country.

He said the disbandment of SARS has again shown that the people remain the fulcrum of democracy.

Abubakar also paid tribute to Jimoh Isiaka, an #EndSARS protester, who was killed in Ogbomosho, Oyo state, on Saturday as well as others who breathed their last in the course of demanding a better society.