Bauchi Federal lawmaker wants SARS reformed, says rogues dominate operative

Member representing Toro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, Hon. Musa Lawal Umar has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to quickly commence reforms of the Special Anti-robbery Squads (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.

The lawmaker’s call followed the incessant sad story of atrocious activities of SARS which was deepening the bad image of the Nigeria Police.

In a statement which he signed and made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja on Tuesday, the lawmaker expressed disappointment, saying
elements he described as “rogues”, among the Special Anti-Robbery Squad meant to tackle crimes and criminality, were getting involved in human rights abuse of Nigerians on daily basis.

He wondered how operatives of the Nigerian Police tasked with the responsibility of fighting criminals turned criminals themselves, saying, there have been complaints of extortion, illegal arrests and alledged gang raping of female victims against SARS.

He said: It’s incomprehensible that SARS has turned out to be citizens’ lamentation as a result of atrocious activities of the unit, ranging from extortion, illegal arrests, molestation, harassments, illegal detention and kidnapping of innocent youth in Nigeria.

“It appears that the rogue elements in the SARS unit of the Nigerian Police Force are adamant to change as lots of efforts have been put in place to reform the Police and raise its standards in recent times to no avail.

“These rogue officers keep delegitimizing the credibility of the Nigerian Police force with their nefarious activities.

According to him, it was uncalled for seeing officers who are bound on oath to protect lives and properties of Nigerians to have constituted themselves into a menace that the citizens keep lamenting on daily basis.

The lawmaker wants reforms of SARS as a matter of urgency, stressing that the Federal Government should quickly do so in order to halt these reprehensible activities and restructure the unit to better perform its lawful duties of safe-guarding the lives and property of Nigerians.