SARS: Governor Wike says officers are criminals and rogue

The governor said SARS has been used to serve political and personal agendas.

River State governor, Nyesom Wike, has added his voice to the wave of criticism against the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force, branding them as criminals.

The governor, who has meted previous allegations against SARS, said rather than protect lives and properties, the police unit has been used to serve political and personal agendas.

While speaking on Channels Television on Friday, December 8, 2017, he said, "I was the one who said the operatives you have in the state are not protecting lives and property. The Head of SARS in Rivers State, whom I knew very well, cannot help the security architecture of the state.

"I have also said these operatives here have a different agenda which is not for them to protect lives and property but to be part of the election process.

"Instead of protecting lives and property, they're even part of committing criminal activities."

Over the past week, the internet has been awash with a lot of anger directed towards one of the country's most notorious law enforcement units.

The outrage resulted in the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, ordering for a reorganization of the unit on Monday, December 4.

While speaking on Friday, Governor Wike said the order to reform the unit will not lead to anything significant, saying that it'll only make things worse instead.

He said, "There's nothing that review will come up to. For me, that review is to strengthen them to be ready to manipulate 2019 election. So I'm not carried away by that review. Review what? What are they reviewing?

"I don't believe in the so-called review, I don't believe in the so-called restructuring because there's nothing that'll come out of it."

The governor also said the public outrage at the unit has vindicated his previous allegations which were dismissed as a political sabotage.

"You were here when the IG took away my security aides before the election; we shouted but nobody said anything. Then when it happened to Obiano, the Governor of Anambra, then Nigerians saw that something's going wrong.

"Which means tomorrow. IG can wake up one early morning and order the withdrawal of of the Senate President security aides and then Nigerians shouted 'You can't do this', but we were the first victim, and we shouted in this country. Nobody said anything.

"When I said it, they said it is politics. We kept quiet, but wherever we'll go, we'll make Nigerians know," he said.

SARS 'reorganization'

Under the new reform, state Commissioners of Police are now the overall heads of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide, meaning the unit now operates in the State and Zonal Commands with immediate effect.

The IGP also ordered for all SARS personnel nationwide to undergo a new training program to be organized in collaboration with some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local and International NGOs, and other Human Rights Organizations.