SARS Disbandment: Atiku Pays Tribute To Resilience Of Nigerian Youths
Welcomes dissolution as best for Nigeria, citizens
BY EVELYN DADU, ABUJA – Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday paid tribute to the Nigerian youths for their resilience in exerting pressure on the police authorities to disband the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in response to public agitations to end abuses by the Special Police squad.
He specifically commended the courage and patriotism of Nigerian youths that took to the streets and the social media to call for an end to the brutal abuses by SARS operatives.
Atiku said; “This was the right thing to do. A system that brutally eliminates our youths is not one to hold on to, and neither can we be proud of it. Now we can start on a clean sheet to envision an elite police unit similar to the SWAT and a comprehensive overhaul of the police and policing system that is peoples-focused”.
Atiku, in a statement by his media office, said the people’s will is the bulwark of any democratic system and those in authority cannot ignore it without undermining democracy itself.
The Wazirin Adamawa however noted that redeploying the bad eggs in SARS to other units may not augur well as they are capable of polluting those units.
According to him, the affected officers must be properly screened and retrained to ensure they do not come into their new assignments with the same mindset the discredited unit was notorious for.
He proposed an independent judicial inquiry into the activities of SARS that will ensure justice for victims of extra-judicial killings and punishment for officers involved in such dastardly acts.
The former Vice President also suggested the opening of the dreaded SARS cells for scrutiny and stock taking of detainees, adding that the dissolution of SARS offers us an opportunity to envision a police and policing system that ensures the primacy of the interest of Nigerians.
Atiku said that the envisaged comprehensive overhaul of the Police should take into consideration the needs of Regional, State and Council components.
He congratulated Nigerian youths on achieving their resolve and reminded them that if they stand united they can achieve much more. He enjoined them to be steadfast in ensuring good governance in an egalitarian society.
Atiku observed that “citizens who engaged in peaceful protests without molesting innocent people are heroes of our democracy.”
He said; “I must commend the courage and tenacity of these youths for holding rogue elements in the police force accountable. Apathy in the face of abuses promotes impunity, and therefore these young men and women deserve our respect for championing the disbandment of SARS”.
He paid tribute to Jimoh Isiaq who was killed in Ogbomoso in the course of the #EndSARS protests and all those extra judicially killed over the years and expressed the hope that their sacrifices would not be in vain.
