OYOGist.com has learned that the former Vice-President and the 2019 Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has added his voice to the debate over modalities on ending the incessant human rights violation and brutality of the Special Anti – Robbery Squad, SARS, a unit of the Nigerian police Force.
Atiku stated that the recently disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) should not be collapsed into other units of the police force, until the group was properly retrained and given a whole new orientation to crime policing.
He said redeploying them to other units of the police would be counter -productive, without the needed training, adding that they would only corrupt existing units of the force.
Recall that the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, on Sunday announced the disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS following several days of protests against the units across the country.
The #EndSARS movement locally and internationally was well reported with famous personalities backing the campaign. The daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo also attended the protest in Abuja.
But following the abolition of the SARS Operatives by the IGP, Atiku Abubakar who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe has canvassed for the retraining of the notorious police unit.
In a statement on Sunday evening, 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 suggested the opening of the “dreaded” SARS cells for scrutiny and stock taking of detainees.
According to the Waziri Adamawa, the disbandment of SARS should ensure a comprehensive and total overhaul of Nigeria’s police to one which would adequately represent the needs of regional, state and council components.
