After four consecutive days of protests by young Nigerians, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has dissolved the notorious police tactical unit, Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
Adamu in a broadcast on Sunday afternoon said a new arrangement would be unveiled soon on how the police would tackle armed robbery and other violent crime.
The decision came after many Nigerians called for the disbandment of the police unit for its highhandedness and unlawful detention and extortion of young men and women across the country.
The protests gained momentum, followed with demonstrations, in the last few days with Nigerian stars and celebrities, joined by international stars and celebrities calling for an end to the unit.
A statement on the Police Twitter handle announcing the decision said: “The Inspector General of Police has dissolved the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across all the 36 state commands and the Federal Capital Terrotory (FCT)”.
The IGP said all officers and men serving in the unit would be redeployed to other police commands, formations and units.
He disclosed that “a new policing arrangement for tackling the offences of armed robbery and other violent crimes will be unveiled to the public soon”.
He also stated that a “citizens and strategic stakeholders forum will be launched to provide an avenue for citizens to regularly interface and advise the police authority on issues touching on the general public”.
Adamu also disclosed that “to deal with the report of crimes committed against citizens, an investigative team will be constituted which will include civil society organizations and culprits will be punished”.
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