Northern Governors oppose disbandment of SARS

Governors of the 19 northern states have rejected the disbandment of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

Simon Lalong, Plateau state governor and chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, told State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja today that the police unit has been useful in the fight against insecurity in the region.

“SARS is not made up of bad elements alone as it also includes personnel who are doing their work diligently,” he said.

Lalong said what is needed is the reformation of the unit to enable it to discharge its functions “optimally”.

On Sunday October 11, Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), had announced the disbandment of SARS following nationwide protests against alleged human rights violations by the unit.

Yesterday, the police leadership came up with a new unit named Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, and promised further reforms.

But the protests have continued and spread across the states with the #EndSARS campaigners demanding the prosecution of all officers named in cases of rights abuses.

Except in Abuja, the protests have not received good support from citizens in the northern part of the country. Yesterday, the protesters smashed vehicle windshields around the popular Berger Roundabout, Wuse, Abuja.

The driver of the minister of state for labour was killed as he fled the scene.