SARS Officers Face Arrest over Attempt to Rob Lagos Resident

Segun Atanda/

Police authorities have ordered the arrest of some operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Lagos for allegedly attempting to rob a man of his money.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the FSARS operatives accosted their victim, Immanuel James, along Ago Palace Way, Okota area of Lagos, after he stepped out of a Zenith Bank branch and threatened to arrest him for an undisclosed offence.

It was further learnt that the victim’s cousin, who was at the scene, called the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, on telephone to report the incident.

A team from the X-Squad led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police was promptly dispatched to the scene.

The FSARS operatives however abandoned their victim and fled on sighting the X-Squad team.

But the PPRO in a statement on Monday night disclosed that the FSARS operatives involved in the incident had been identified and would be arrested.

He said the operatives, who were on illegal duty, were led by one Inspector Jude Akhoyemta attached to FSARS, in Ikeja.

The statement reads: “Today 9th of April, 2018, at about 2pm, one Ekene Okoro placed a call to the office of the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State (PPRO) and reported that his cousin, Immanuel James, was being harassed by policemen alleged to be SARS operatives at Ago-Palace way, Okota, opposite a Zenith Bank branch, at Ago-Palace way.

“Sequel to the above, a team of policemen from the Command X-Squad section, led by ASP Musa Shuaibu, was dispatched to intervene in the matter.

“However, on sighting the X-Squad personnel the erring police officers hurriedly left the scene in a manner suggesting that they were on illegal duty.

“Going forward, the CP Lagos directed the officer in charge of the X-Squad section to fish out the policemen within two hours and that directive has been actualized with the identification of the policemen involved.

“They were led on that inglorious duty by one Inspector Jude Akhoyemta attached to FSARS Ikeja.

“The general public is hereby informed that the CP has ordered their arrest and as soon as that is done, the public will be informed as usual.”

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