IGP dissolves special anti-robbery squad

▪︎Emplaces other measures to protect the citizens

In the finest spirit of democratic, citizen-centred and community policing, the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, on Sunday (11th October, 2020), dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the 36 State Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where they hitherto existed.

In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, DCP Frank Mba said the IGP, while noting that the dissolution of SARS was in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian people, observed that by this dissolution, all officers and men of the now defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad were being redeployed with immediate effect.

Mba further stated that the IGP noted that the Force was not oblivious of the ever-present need to combat armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country, which was before now the core mandate of the erstwhile squad.

He said the IGP assured that a new policing arrangement to address anticipated policing gaps the dissolution of SARS would cause had been evolved and shall be announced in due course.

Meanwhile, as part of measures to prevent a recurrence of events that gave rise to the dissolution of SARS, a Citizen and Strategic Stakeholders’ Forum is being formed to regularly interface with Police leadership at all levels and advise on police activities as they affect the general public.

Mba said the Force was constituting an Investigation Team which “shall include Civil Society Organizations and Human Rights Bodies to work with the Police in investigating alleged cases of human rights violations.”

The measure, the IGP said, would enhance transparency and accountability in police services as well as providing a system of deterrence for erring police officers whose action clearly violated the rights of the citizenry.

He said the IGP appreciated and commended all citizens particularly those who genuinely expressed their concerns for a better policing orientation in an organized, patriotic and civil manner.

He reaffirmed the determination of the Force to bequeath to the country “a Police Force and System that is professional in-service delivery and most importantly, accountable to the people.”