“A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones,” a famous quote from Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom. The late South Africa Ex President captured the shambles of a country on how it entreats its citizens in a “jail” -making reference to his jail-time experience. When an institution of the government (SARS) that is established and charged with a quick response to robbery cases eventually becomes a threat to human right, then our pen and ink must echo our plights.
In the past few months, there has been continuous #EndSARS campaigns across the federation by Nigerians to express their dissatisfaction about the operatives of the “Special Anti-robbery Squad”. There’re several published and unpublished reports of the SARS’s gruesome and tyrannical treatments against our human right.
The Federal Government, in its response to the yawning of the #EndSARS campaigners, orders the restructuring of SARS through the Police Complaint Rapid Response Unit. The operations of SARS include arrest, investigation and prosecution of suspected armed robbers, murderers, kidnappers, hired assassins and others involved in violent crimes. The NPF has also taken step to correct the human right abuses levied on the citizens by men of the police force. Over a month to the FG promises, here we are, locked down in ball and chains at the mercy of arbitrary powers. We get daily reports of SARS’s maltreatments against innocent lives. Just last week, I lost an acquaintance of mine following an encounter with SARS.
The founder of the special anti-robbery unit was called upon to share his view and response to the #EndSARS campaigns. The Special Anti-Robbery Squad was founded in 1992 by a former Commission of Police, RTD CP Simeon Danladi Midenda. The security unit started in Lagos State and expanded, following successful operations across the 36 States in the country. The former CP explained that the unit has deviated from the original concept. He further stressed that the controversies engulfing SARS today will not disappear unless they return to the original concept. They should undergo reorientation and thereafter, disappear from public view and remain faceless.
Although most of the campaigns against SARS has just one request – #EndSARS, but in my own view, looking at the current security challenges in the country, dissolving the Special Anti-Robbery Unit will only give room to more criminals to flex their muscles with impunity. A reform is desperately needed but we mustn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Hence, I’ll subscribe to the former CP’s suggestions.
Dear Nigerians, we’ve all suffered and shared a pain or two. Right now, the country needs more effective security measures than any other thing. Let’s demand for that. Unfortunately, the attention of our political leaders are drifted towards the 2019 election. But as a concerned-citizen, whose life and properties are vulnerable, and can’t sleep with your two eyes closed, kindly share your way-forward regarding SARS operatives in the country. Should the unit be scrapped or reformed? How?
Hit the comment box. I look forward to your response…
Oluwafemi J. O
The Voice 