The Force Public Relations Officer, of the Nigerian
Police Force, DCP Frank Mba, has reacted to the calls by various
protesters to ban operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(SARS).
DCP Mba in an interview on Friday on Channels Television’s
Sunrise Daily said that some of the protesters
calling for the dissolving of the squad are genuine while some
others are desperate for public validation.
“I have seen some of the people calling for the #EndSARS who are
just pseudo activists and desperate for public validation,” the
force spokesman claimed.
“People who are looking to be seen as social media influencers,
these are the people that post fake news”.
He noted that others are legitimately concerned about the
professional misconduct being exhibited from operatives of the
tactical squads and “have a genuine case.”
According to him, “These set of Nigerians are angered by those
infractions on the rights of Nigerians and they are demanding for
total change and overhaul, they want the police leadership to do
the right thing, we understand that and we are in line with
them.”
He also disclosed that there are some other people aiding and
calling for the overhaul of SARS but are “beneficiaries of criminal
enterprise, some of them are receiving stolen good, illicit arms
smuggling and movement, importation of drugs”.
The police spokesman challenged critics faulting the recent move
to reform SARS.
“I have heard some critics say these instructions have been
given before but I will challenge them to produce any other IGP
that has given these instructions very clearly, articulated these
instructions like the way IGP M.A Adamu has done,” the police
spokesman added.
Mba said the police leadership is aware that some officers have
conducted themselves in the past in manners that are inconsistent
with the code of conduct and oat of office, and standard
operational procedures.
But he noted that the force has a strong mechanism in dealing
with erring officers.
“The good thing about the police is that it is one organization
that has a strong internal mechanism for dealing with inappropriate
behaviours, professional misconduct for its personnel.
“We will not shy away from this core responsibility of ours in
bringing our personnel to book when they err.
“We are one of those few organisations that will publicly name
and shame our own, we are one of those organisations that will
publicly arrest our own.”
He asked citizens of the country to give the force some
time.
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Referencing the recent killing of a police officer on Thursday
during the #EndSARS protest in Delta State, the police image maker
also expressed concern about the lack of condemnation and the
silence by Nigerians when officers are murdered.
“I have also seen footages of Nigerians slapping police officers
and these officers are keeping quiet, controlling themselves,” he
lamented.
He reiterated that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad is a societal
and common response that handles crime in the country.
The Force PRO noted that before now, the police never had any
special outfit called SARS, and explained that the unit was set up
at a time when armed robberies were on the increase, so “the police
authorities came up with SARS which became an elevated platform for
the police to confront crime.”
Training
DCP Mba revealed that some of these operatives are well trained
to tackle violent crime, kidnapping and bank robbery.
He said their intervention has effectively saved the nation from
total embarrassment and restored sanity to where the robbery was on
an increase.
Giving an example, Frank Mba said that operatives of the SARS
were able to help in fishing out and arresting the killers of the
daughter of the Afenifere leaders.
On restrictions placed on police officers, DCP Mba
reiterated that no police officer is allowed to go to the streets
carrying out their duties without being properly dressed.
He also added that no police officer should mount blocks,
indiscriminate, and authorized searching people’s smartphones or
mobile devices.
Mba’s comment is coming on the heels of protests by Nigerians
calling for a ban on SAR enters its third day.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, last week
banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force from embarking on
routine patrols.
But the directive by the IGP does not seem to go down well with
the youths as many, including celebrities, are protesting calling
for the end of SARS.
The activities of the police unit in recent times have come
under scrutiny and several members of the squad have been found
guilty of using their position of authority to trample on the
rights of citizens, especially the youths.