Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, have condemned the alleged killing of a young man in Delta State by a team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.
The incident was reported to have occurred in front of Wetland Hotel, Ughelli in Delta State on Saturday.
The operatives allegedly shot the citizen and left the scene. A trending footage shows them speeding off in the victim’s vehicle – a white Lexus SUV.
Reacting to the development, Atiku said SARS was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes, but noted that the unit has morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses.
According to him, “The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigerian Police was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes. However, the unit has today morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses who strive every day for a better life.
“Reports of intimidation, harassment and outright extortion by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have continued unabated. I strongly condemn their cruel actions against our people, and I urge the government to rise to the occasion and nip this monstrosity in the bud with the seriousness it deserves.
“It’s expedient that the activities of SARS are reviewed to ensure that the rogue elements are excised from the unit and sanity returned to its operations.”
In his reaction, Saraki called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to immediately put a stop to these reprehensible activities and restructure the unit to better perform its lawful duties of safe guarding the lives and property of the Nigerian people.
“The reports of the continued harassment, illegal arrest, detention and high handedness by rogue cells of SARS against innocent Nigerians – most of them young people – in spite of the efforts to reform the Police & raise standards of policing are disheartening.
“A situation where the officers of the Police Force become a threat to the lives and property of the citizens they swore to protect is condemnable and unacceptable.
“I call on the Federal Government to immediately put a stop to these reprehensible activities and restructure the unit to better perform its lawful duties of safe guarding the lives and property of the Nigerian people,” Saraki said.
Video:
Idowu Sowunmi
