End SARS campaign is championed by Governor Wike - Dakuku Peterside alleges
- DG of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, warns that without the police there can be no law and order in the society
- He says Rivers state has occupied the number one position in the area of violent crimes
- Femi Falana says the Nigerian government cannot afford to scrap SARS due to the increase in violent crimes which the regular police personnel have not been trained to combat
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has been accused of being behind the #EndSARS campaign against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.
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Dakuku Peterside, the director-general of Nigerian maritime administration and safety sgency, (NIMASA) made the accusation in Lagos on the sidelines of Friends of Gulf of Guinea Conference, organised by the Italian government in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, Vanguard reports.
He said: “Rivers State is number one in high profile crimes of murder, kidnapping and robbery and the state government may have become uncomfortable because of its inability to influence and control the police. Some people are obviously benefiting from the criminal activities that SARS officers stand against. I support the good work of SARS and I wish the agency could be re-organized and strengthened to function better.”
The NIMASA DG said SARS officers in Rivers state were doing well and warned that without the police there can be no law and order in the society.
He said for the past 18 months Rivers state has been in the news as for violent crimes.
“It’s a campaign championed by Governor Wike. In every society, without the police there can be no law and order and consistently for the past 18 months, Rivers State has occupied number one position in the area of violent crimes,” Peterside stated.
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“Recently a lady lawyer, Mary Obe was killed because she was pursuing a case on those who killed her brother. Her brother, Edwin Obe was killed earlier in Eleme part of Rivers State. I believe nobody will deny the fact that SARS has been very potent in tackling crimes in Rivers State. They have reduced the crime rate and given confidence to the people.”
Meanwhile, human rights activist, Femi Falana, has said the Nigerian government cannot afford to scrap the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) due to the increase in violent crimes which the regular police personnel have not been trained to combat.
Falana however advocated for the squad to be completely overhauled. He said currently, the squad is partially illegal as it is a legacy of the military government. The senior lawyer made the statement on Tuesday, December 12, during a Channels TV programme.
He advocated for armed troops among SARS operatives to be removed and for the policemen among them to undergo reorientation as they operate like they are in a military government.
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Source: Naija.ng