A coalition of four Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), under the aegis of #EndSARS movement, has given the Nigerian Police Force a 21-day ultimatum to scrap its Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit.
The movement, which is made up of Concerned Nigerians, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy, Our Mumu Don Do Movement, and Campaign for Democracy, decried that Nigerians had spent the last one week highlighting the travails many citizens suffered in the hands of the SARS operatives.
The movement added that the stories that have been recounted on social media include stories of torture, a lack of respect for the rule of law, extortion, extra-judicial murder and the disappearance of hundreds of people.
Convener of the movement, Sunday Awosanya, who spoke on Monday when the group staged an anti-SARS in Abuja, also expressed worry that the Unit now constituted a clear and present threat to the safety, wellbeing and welfare of most Nigerians having outlived its usefulness.
He warned that the IGP should be ready to meet the demands of the movement, stressing that if he fails, the coalition will be compelled to resort to other measures to embarrass the Police Force into taking action.
He said: “We demand for an outright scrapping of the entire SARS unit across the country. Its members have become engrossed in crime, murder, brutality, extortion and disrespect for the rule of law in a manner that makes any attempt at reform a waste of time.
“We demand for the constitution of a panel by the Police Services Commission to reform the Nigerian Police in its entirety. The agenda must include provisions for better training of police officers; provision of better equipment and firearms; better welfare including housing, insurance, prompt payment of salaries and pensions etc; establishment of a code of conduct and strict compliance thereto as well as strong disciplinary measures for any officer who violates the code of conduct.
“We also demand for a public hearing at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to enable Nigerians table their grievances before our elected representatives as well as the submission of memoranda on reforms of the Nigerian Police including recommendations on the amendment of laws to ensure a more efficient police force.
“We demand thorough investigations into complaints filed against SARS officers. We demand that such officers be identified and immediately brought to justice. In some cases, we will provide video and pictoral evidence against officers who have been seen to be involved in such acts of brutality and extortion.
“We give the authorities 21 days within which to meet these demands failing which we will be compelled to resort to other measures to embarrass them into taking action.”
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