SARS disbandment created vacuum in fight against crime, says IGP
The acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has said the disbandment of the Special Anti-robbery Squad created a vacuum in tackling security challenges.
SARS was disbanded following protests against police brutality in October 2020 tagged #EndSARS.
The Special Weapons and Tactical Squad was immediately announced as the replacement for the disbanded SARS.
However, speaking at a State House press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Baba said the new formation has not been able to take off fully, thereby creating a vacuum in tackling security challenges.
“The security situation of the country has been significantly stabilise from time to time but we think if it is stabilising then are isolated insurgency coming from these zones in terms of attacks on police facilities and police personnel, even all law enforcement agencies including the military,” he said.
“Therefore, we decided to, one, rejig the morale of our personnel, which has been a little bit dampened since the #EndSARS thing went.
“With the proscription of SARS and establishment of SWAT, which has not been able to take off fully, we had a vacuum in tackling most of the violent crimes from our position of strength.”
On the recruitment of 10,000 new policemen, the IGP stated that the process is 70 per cent done. He added that the Federal Character Commission and Police Service Commission will ensure the reflection of federal character and other requirements in the process.
