#ENDSARS: Police Urge Campaigners to Put National Interest First

Pat Steven/

National interest must override personal interest in the ongoing campaign for the ban on Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), says Zone ‘2’ police spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos.

Badmos was reacting to comments by Deji Adeyanju, the convener of the #ENDSARS campaign during AIT’s Kakaki programme.

She called on Nigerians to be patient as the police authorities have already started working to transform SARS.

Adeyanju had said that the SARS unit was a notorious criminal gang. He described SARS as an Abattoir where suspects are maimed and killed like animals, and he doubted if the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has the moral right to reform the embattled squad as past efforts had failed.

Badmos, however, urged Adeyanju to do away with personal grudges and put national interest first adding that before making any comment, he should get his facts right.

She said, “We are not saying that our men do not misbehave. I am on social media and I get tagged on many misdeeds but when people are agitating, they should get their facts correct. Saying that if you go to SARS, you will excavate dead bodies is not true. The name Abattoir was given to SARS because of the place it was located on a land (in Abuja) where ram, goat and cow were killed and sold and saying the IGP does not have the moral right to reform SARS is taking the issue personal.

“Mr Adeyanju has not narrated his own experience with SARS, but he is acting on what others are saying .You do not take agitation personal. If we are agitating, we should have a sense of national duty and be patriotic. Don’t bring personal grudges. You have made your points and the leadership of the Force responded swiftly and the SARS will now have a Commissioner of Police they will be reporting to. All we are appealing for is patience as the needed reform has started. You are saying end SARS, end SARS, and it must be end SARS? You cannot throw away the baby with the bath water.”

Badmos also urged Nigerians to report extortions by SARS officers.

She said, “The Nigeria Police Force is a disciplined organisation and if a policeman decides to follow anybody to the ATM, that is a risk they have taken; and if you have taken that risk, and you are caught, you will be dealt with. Please, if any policeman takes you to the ATM and gets you to withdraw money for them; know the area and time the incident happened and tag us.”

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