The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to the call by Nigerians across the length and breadth of the country to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Gbajabiamila who said this in a statement stressed that the dissolution of SARS is a necessary response by the Government to the outcry arising from multiple documented excesses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad across the country.
Gbajabiamila also commended Nigerians, particularly the millions of young people at home and abroad, whom he said saw a wrong and sought to make it right, injustice, and acted to put an end to it.
The Speaker explained that the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and the broader ongoing reforms of the Police that will follow, are a testament to the passion and resilience of a Generation of Nigerians who determined not to accept or tolerate injustice in whatever form it takes.
The Speaker called on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu to take practical steps to support and enforce the policy pronouncement.
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Gbajabiamila wants the Nigeria Police Force to identify and punish the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad involved in the most severe cases of abuse of rights, brutality and murder of Nigerians.
Gbajabiamila noted with displeasure the Police’ manhandling of some protesters, who came out in numbers to protest peacefully.
He assured all Nigerians that the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad will not preclude the ongoing efforts by the House of Representatives to effect reforms of the police through Legislation.
The Speaker promised that the House will this week meet with the national Leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Human Rights Commission and some Civil society organisations to begin joint efforts at developing a Legislative Proposal.
The House had last week rose against the brutality of SARS officers, passing some vital resolutions on the matter and demanded the IGP to take decisive action against the brutality and human rights violation by SARS officers and report the said action to the Green Chamber within three weeks.
The Lawmakers also requested the Police Chief to produce a comprehensive record of disciplinary and judicial action taken against the officers accused of abuse of power in the past five years.
Also rising from the resolutions, the House asked the IGP to produce an immediate plan for identifying and compensating the victims of the brutality and abuses.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
