By Steve Oni, Ilorin
Kwara state Police Commissioner, Lawan Ado and Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar have canvassed the retention of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) outfit of the
Nigeria Police Force.
The police chief and the frontline monarch expressed their support for the reorganisation of SARs as directed by
the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.
The duo made their feelings known in Ilorin, the Kwara state
capital during an interactive session between the police and eminent people’s forum in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital on Thursday.
The police boss said: “Recently, this issue of Special
Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) must be disbanded has occupied public domain. But some members of the public are supporting the SARS must-stay chorus. The country cannot operate without an outfit that is combat ready and waiting to go and fight in case of any distress call.
“That is why SARS is very good. We are all aware that the Inspector General of Police has directed the reorganisation of that outfit. All steps will be taken to ensure that all the bad eggs there are uprooted and members of the outfit will continue to work professionally for us to achieve out set out goals.”
Represented by Mutawali of Patigi, Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed, the Etsu Patigi said “I am personally of the opinion that SARS should stay and be encouraged. I therefore suggest regular training and refresher courses for the police especially the junior officers.”
Speaking on the motive behind the meeting, which he said would be quarterly from 2018, the commissioner of police said that “we believe that police is working for the people, so that is why we opened all channels of communications with members of the public. We equally identified the major problems bedeviling us in the state. Then we made efforts and strategise on how to solve them collectively.
“The most important thing now is the issue of collaboration and
cooperation. They often say, police is your friend if you are a
law- abiding person and you are concerned with the issue of security.”
The commissioner of police sued for cooperation and collaboration of
members of the vigilance group and the police in the state.
He added: “Recently, I read in the news that the Bill for Vigilance
Group of Nigeria has been passed, but we are still waiting for the
finishing touches. That is why i cherish this issue of the group, as
we know that our number is very limited. As we normally recommend vigilance group is to work with the security agencies, they cannot work alone. They have to work in collaboration and in synergy with the police.
“In fact, we have done a good number of assignments and achieved a lot of successes with members of the vigilance group. About a month ago some suspected kidnappers were arrested around Kwara South in collaboration with some members of vigilance group. I think that effort is highly commendable. We pray and hope that all members of the group in the various communities will come to our aide, because they know the terrain better than the policemen in the areas. They are indigenes on their various communities.”
In his remark, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari
represented by the Magaji Aare of Ilorin, Alhaji Aremu Zubair praised the police for the peace and tranquility that is reigning in Ilorin
and the state at large.
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