Don’t hijack protest, MURIC warns hoodlums, politicians
By Fredrick Wright
NIGERIAN youth engaging the protest against police brutality appear not deterred as the struggle spreads like wildfire across states of the federation, even as the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu announced a new formation to replace the dreaded SARS.
Adamu yesterday replaced the dreaded and outlawed Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with Special Weapon and Tactics Team (SWAT), assuring Nigerians that the new formation would undergo psychological and medical evaluation.
Meanwhile, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged hoodlums and politicians against hijacking the protest for their selfish and parochial agenda.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) DCP Frank Mba quoted the IGP in a statement that SWAT became necessary to fill the gap arising from the dissolution of SARS.
He also ordered all personnel of the defunct SARS to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, for debriefing, psychological and medical evaluation.
He said the directive was in accordance with Section 18 (10) of the Police Act 2020.
He said the officers were expected to undergo these processes as prelude to further training and reorientation before being redeployed into mainstream policing duties.
Mba said: “The medical examination will be carried out by the newly set-up Police Counseling and Support Unit (PCSU), a unit, which henceforth shall engage in psychological management, re-orientation, and training of officers of the Force deployed for tactical operations and other duties.”
“The Unit, which is domiciled with the Force Medical Department and coordinated by the Force Medical Officer, has its membership drawn from amongst psychiatrists, psychologists, medics, pastors and imams, public relations practitioners, civil society and other human rights groups with relevant qualifications and expertise.”
“Prospective members of this new team will also undergo psychological and medical examination to ascertain their fitness and eligibility for the new assignment. They are to commence training at the different Police tactical training institutions nationwide, next week.
“While personnel from the Police Commands in the South-east and the South-south will be trained at the Counter-Terrorism College, Nonwa-Tai, Rivers state, those from the Police Commands from the North and the South-west will be trained at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ende, Nasarawa state and the Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun state, respectively.
Hundreds of Nigerian youth yesterday blocked the junction leading to Nigeria’s National Assembly to demand an end to the notorious police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said “We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) strongly condemn the reported excesses of men of the Special Armed Robbery Squad (SARS). We frown at the brutal killing of young Nigerians in the hands of the police and consider these as crimes against humanity. The harassment, intimidation and coercion of Nigerian youths by men of SARS constitute outright infringements on Allah-given fundamental rights of the victims.
“These actions by SARS are a gross violation of freedom of movement and association which are fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 which the police swore to protect.
“MURIC therefore finds justification for Nigerian youths who participated in the #EndSARSprotests. Nonetheless, we condemn the action of a few protesters who employed violence. The attack on the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso and the looting and destruction of parts of the palace are absolutely unjustifiable. We also appreciate the prompt action of the Federal Government and that of the Inspector General of Police who deemed it fit to disband SARS,” he stated.
