December 11, 2017

The Concerned Men and Women Association of Nigeria, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), has rejected the call by some Nigerians to scrap the Special Anti Robbery Squad ( SARS) unit of the Police Force, over alleged harassment and assault of Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that some group of Nigerians recently in the social media, called for the scrapping of SARS over alleged harassment of innocent Nigerians, using the #EndSARS.

NAN also reports that following the allegation, the Inspector- General of Police , Mr Ibrahim Idris, promised to restructure and reposition the unit for effective service delivery.

The group made the call on Monday in Abuja while protesting against calls by some group of Nigerians for Government to scrap SARS.

Addressing newsmen, the Coordinator of the association, Alhaji Sanusi Ajiya, who is also the Deputy National Chairman, Police Relations Committee ( PCRC), North, said Nigerians do not support scrapping of the unit.

Ajiya said that instead of calling for the scraping of the unit, Nigerians should call for its restructuring and monitoring of its day to day activities.

“The recent campaign in the social media calling for the scrapping of the SARS is not in the interest of Nigerians,” he said.

He enjoined Nigerians to continue to support the efforts being put in place by the inspector-general of police to restructure the unit.

He also urged Nigerians to cooperate and allow the ongoing investigation on the alleged harassment directed by Idris to be carried out.

He noted that restructuring the unit was the best way to go as it had helped to fight armed robbery in the country.

The coordinator urged Idris to continue with the reform of the unit and ignore the call to scrap it.

Mrs Usaku Yaduma, National Public Relation Officer of the association, said that scrapping the SARS was not the solution to the alleged misconduct by members of the unit.

Yaduma said that restructuring and effective monitoring of activities of SARS would enhance and check their alleged excesses.

“I don’t think that scrapping of the unit will do Nigerians or the country any good especially with the security challenges in the country, “he said.