…Residents report Commander to IG

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, is in the news in Rivers State for the wrong reasons as allegations of wrongdoing are levelled against it and calls mounting for the redeployment of its Commander, Mr Akin Fakorede.

SOME OF THE PLACARD CARRYING PROTESTERS AT THE NUJ PREMISES IN PH

Governor Nyesom Wike fired the first shot last year when he alleged that the Commander was in the state to upset the peace.

Wike further accused him during the last legislative elections in Rivers of working for the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, an allegation the APC denied in a statement by its spokesman, Mr Chris Finebone.

The governor’s account that the Commander and some of his aides were caught on camera last year trying to manipulate the result of the Rivers East senatorial district election at the collation centre in Port Harcourt city local government area   went viral.

Three weeks ago, Wike again raised a fresh alarm, accusing the security body of being behind some criminal activities in the state. He alleged that one of the SARS’ operatives was shot dead during a foiled kidnap operation by the body at Oroazi area of Obio Akpor local government area.

He alleged that the SARS personnel drove in exhibit vehicles to commit nefarious acts in the state.

Meanwhile, hundreds of youths stormed the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre in Port Harcourt, demanding the redeployment of Fakorede.

The protesters alleged that the security body, under his watch, had become lawless and allegedly involved in criminal activities.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions like, “SARS, stop killing innocent Rivers people”, “Every police personnel must wear name tag”, “ Commander Akin Fakorede has proved to be an enemy of the state “.

Chinansa Omachi and Okocha Njobuanwu, who addressed journalists on behalf of the youths, said the Inspector General of Police should investigate the myriad of allegations against the security body, adding that the Commander should be redeployed since he had allegedly failed to check the excesses of his men.

“We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the activities of SARS. The Commander, Mr Fakorede, who has refused to investigate allegations against the body, should be removed”, they said.

Some of the protesters, who said they had been victims of the excesses of some men of SARS in Rivers, alleged that the security personnel went about with POS machines.

“They arrested me some time ago around Oil Mill area of Port Harcourt for no clear reason. They just bundled me into their vehicle, drove to a point and demanded I bail myself. Before I knew what was happening, they had brought out a POS and asked me to use my ATM card”, one of the youths said.

Another protester, who simply gave his name as Andrew, said some men of the SARS, had been conducting their activities in a way that made people wonder if they were law enforcement officers or criminals.

“They arrest indiscriminately and force you to part with money. Not all of them will certainly be bad. But the ones that arrested me for committing no crime have not given a good picture of the place”.

The youths said it was necessary the Inspector General should not just dismiss the allegations of the governor against SARS.

“He (IG) should look critically at the allegations. This is a security issue. The governor was not asking that they disband the body but they should look at some of the personnel”, they said.

A driver conveying Vanguard newspapers from Yenagoa to Port Harcourt for distribution lamented how he was beaten by men of SARS for allegedly refusing to part with bribe recently.

Meanwhile, Fakorede told newsmen that the allegations against him were not true, adding that he had not seen evidence linking his men to crime.