IGP Scraps Police Anti Robbery Squad, SARS

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Abubakar Idris has scrapped all states’ Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS following recent agitation against operations of the force.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that the decision to scrap the SARS was taken at a recent meeting of top senior police officers comprising Commissioner of Police, CP, Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Deputy Inspector General of Police, DiG and the IGP.

Police sources said the IGP directed the CPs across the State Commands to dissolve all the SARS operatives in their commands with immediate effect, while other units may be constituted later.

However, the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, FSARS, were still retained as the IGP said they will still operates within the state police commands and zones under the directive of a Commissioner of Police.

The dissolution were greeted with mix feelings at the Lagos State Police Command where it was announced to Area Commanders and DPO who went for weekly briefing by the Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal.

Sources at the meeting said that Edgal directed the dissolution of SARS in every area command and divisions as directed by IGP.

Some of the officers said they saw it coming because of the excess of some SARS officers which has attracted condemnation across the country.

However, some officers said such decision was uncalled for when considered the fragile security situation across the federation.

The implication, according to some of them, is that criminals may have their free days because the operation of SARS has gone a long way to reduced crimes in the country.

When P.M.EXPRESS contacted the Police public Relation Office, Mr Chike Oti, his phones rang and he did not pick the call.

However, police sources at the Command confirmed the development and said the Area Commanders and DPOs have no choice than to comply.

There has been series of agitation by some prominent Nigerians who alleged that SARS were aiding criminality in the society, allegation which has since been debunked by the police authority.