END SARS?!!!😲😲😲😲
The Special Anti-Robbery Squad was founded in 1992 by former police commissioner Simeon Danladi Midenda. The major reason SARS was formed[according to whom?] was when Col. Rindam, a Nigerian Army Colonel was killed by police officers at a checkpoint in Lagos. When the information reached the army, soldiers were dispatched into the streets of Lagos in search of any police officer. The Nigerian police withdrew from checkpoints, security areas and other points of interest for criminals, some police officers were said to have resigned while others fled for their lives. Due to the absence of police for two weeks crime rate increased and SARS was formed with only 15 officers operating in the shadows without the knowledge of the army while monitoring police radio chatters..... (FROM WIKIPEDIA)
SARS is one of the 14 units in the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department which was established to detain, investigate and prosecute people involved in crimes like armed robbery, kidnapping and other forms of crimes.[citation needed]
In 2009, after several years of operations the squad grew in number and strength. Due to the surge of internet fraudsters and cultism in universities, SARS operatives infiltrated Nigerian universities, made several successful arrest but in the process harassed innocent youths... (FROM WIKIPEDIA)
Those who experienced the gory days of armed robbery attacks in Lagos will understand where I am coming from with this post. First we should express gratitude for the past as we condemn the present situation with SARS because they have made remarkable progress in eradicating armed robbery in Nigeria. These are officers trained to kill, to face dangerous armed men in gun battles, these are men who are ready to sacrifice their life for Nigeria at anytime. They leave their homes prepared not to return to it. Several officers of the anti robbery squad has been sacrificed for Nigeria to enjoy the peace that we have today.
Why end SARS? so that armed robbers can come back? So that yahoo boys or unruly youths can have free reign on our streets bullying innocent people? For pick pockets to resume operations?
This special unit of the Nigerian police force was trained to be aggressive which means they require a more demanding engagement. Those who took over from the originators of SARS probably do not have the required innovative ideas to refine & limit their sphere of activities or to debrief them regularly. The NPF should pay their officers on-time!
These guys know criminals by sight, their instincts are that sharp! They are quite composed most of the time but if an arrest is resisted then they get aggressive and the aggression goes as far as the person (suspect) is willing to go.
If you are responsibly dressed you can probably walk pass a SARS group unnoticed except if they have information that you are a disguised criminal or they establish eye contact with you as I said before their instinct is that sharp. SARS don't just bounce on people except if they are suspected criminals. The NPF should publish their results on unplanned stop and search lots of armed youths have been discovered in that manner but the checking of phones and laptops are totally petty by the SARS units.
See, the records of the number of police officers murdered by some daring Nigerian youths don't reach the media and I think that's unfair on the NPF. We see a person resisting arrest right there on video but complain when the police use force. Some of us Nigerians are unnecessarily aggressive!
If there are no other reasons as serious as stray bullets hitting people and the alleged extortion from "innocent people" then the NPF should be more vigilant with the SARS unit so as to FISH OUT BAD EGGS and prosecute them.
The SARS unit probably needs training on how to use handcuffs instead of guns or batons. Do they have enough handcuffs? They should also upgrade their training so as to send them on special missions in troubled areas of the country since that is what they were originally trained for. These guys need to discharge all that aggressive energy.
Its no news that the regular police can not handle our youths only SARS or the military can. These group of Nigerian youths disarm policemen, beat them up, seize their berets and guns. It's insane!
Please don't end SARS O!
Lily-Rose.
