As the October 20 date set aside by Nigerian youths to commemorate the killing of EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate, draws near, Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has assured that there is no plan to bring back the disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).
The statement from the IGP follows a reaction to media reports purportedly from him, where he was quoted to have listed conditions for bringing back the dread police unit.
The statement of the police chief comes at a time when several Nigerians believe that men of the unit are still operating in many states of the federation despite the ban placed on it.
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WHAT THIS MEANS:
- Reports making the rounds, suggesting that the inspector-general of police has ordered the re-establishment of the defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) are false.
- The Police Force categorically emphasise that there is no plan whatsoever to bring back the disbanded SARS. SARS is gone for good and will not resurrect under any guise whatsoever.
- The Force has since reorganised its operational structure to fill the vacuum created by the disbandment of SARS.
- The leadership of the Force is focused on efforts at deepening reforms within the police and bequeathing Nigerians a police force that will be more effective, efficient, technology-driven, humane and rule of law-compliant.
- Members of the public should disregard the report as it is absolutely false and deliberately intended to disinform and misinform the general public.
Recall that unarmed protesters were, on October 20, 2020, shot at by men of the Nigerian security forces at the Lekki tollgate, leaving at least ten dead and several others injured.
Although the Nigerian Army first said it personnel were neither at the site of the protest nor shot at the protesters. It later stated that soldiers were at the scene of the event but blank shots were fired and not live ammunition.
