The Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria, Muhammed Adamu has yielded to the pressure by Nigerians on Twitter, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to end activities of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
In a statement signed by DCP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, the IGP said the police has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force, including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties.
The ban, which is with immediate effect stops SARS from stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks and traffic checks.
Specifically, the IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through an indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices. They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.
Many notable Nigerians had taken to the social media platform since yesterday to express their frustrations over the activities of SARS, describing the police unit as an enemy of the citizens, especially the youths.
With the hashtag #EndSARS going viral, Nigerians say instead of protecting the citizens, SARS Officers have turned to rogue criminals in uniform, who specializes in intimidation, stealing and most time killing of Nigerians, especially the youths.
