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Govs, AYF, Others Back SARS Ban
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) has applauded the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, for banning the operations of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS).
The Chairman, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, demanded appropriate sanctions against law enforcement officers who had become lawless while exercising their duties against ordinary Nigerians.
Fayemi stated that the governors received the ban of SARS with great relief.
The governors supported the directive of the IGP that no personnel of the Force was permitted to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti henceforth.
Part of the statement reads: “This will significantly reduce the various infractions of the Force that ordinary Nigerians have been complained about.
“We also believe this will bring an end to the menace of SARS brutality on the people they are meant to protect.
Fayemi noted that the IGP’s directive came at a better time when majority of Nigerians are unhappy with this group of police personnel who have engaged in unlawful killings and harassment, thereby giving the Force a bad name.
“It is helpful to recall that SARS has been cautioned for the same behaviour before, only for it to go back to its old ways.
“Our young people should not be criminalized simply on account of how they look or their mode of dressing or the cars they drive the type of phones they carry, etc. This is an assault on their fundamental human rights.
“We think this is a timely clinical response by the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force and I must commend IGP Adamu for his promptness and boldness,” the statement added.
Fayemi hoped that the announcement would promptly be followed by action and that there would be no reversal.
However, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed hope that the recent ban of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) patrols will be enforced.
The Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, noted that the latest ban announced by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was not the first.
He said the IG’s order was in line with the commission’s recommendations after the Presidential Investigation Panel reported human rights violations by SARS.
The official recalled that shocking revelations emerged during the panel’s sitting.
“This is not the first time such a proclamation is made by the police hierarchy but compliance to such orders has remained a problem”, Ojukwu noted.
“It is hoped that this time the directive which is expected to preserve and protect the rights to privacy and dignity of the human person from atrocious acts of some bad eggs in the Nigeria Police will be enforced to the fullest” Ojukwu stated.
Similarly, the Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) has said that banning the activities of FSARS was the best decision taken by the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force, in recent time.
The AYF, in a statement issued by the President, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, yesterday, stated that when an institution with the monopoly of the use of force turned against some of its citizens, nothing could be better than banning such outfit.
They, therefore, congratulated IGP Mohammed Adamu for taking such decisive decision in the interest of the public.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police has restated its commitment to the ban on some activities of SARS operatives in the country.
A popular musician, Naira Marley, had yesterday morning, cancelled a planned protest after persuasions from the Nigeria Police.
His announcement came a few hours after the Minister of Youth, Sunday Dare, appealed to the singer not to protest, adding that the government was on the issue.
However, the Police Force Spokesperson, Frank Mba, in a live Instagram chat with popular musician, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, however, assured that more would be done to police the policemen to prevent violations of human rights, insisting that the police were serious with the ban on some activities of SARS.
Mba noted that every reform that has been rolled out in the wake of the outcry against the police unit will be strictly adhered to, adding that every erring police officer will be dealt with.
He affirmed that it is not a criminal act for youths to have tattoos, dreadlocks and dress any way they want.
Mba said the police under the leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, have been proactive and would not wait for a protest before taking the proper actions.
Mba said the fundamental job of the police is to protect lives and property and they must respect the choice of people to appear how they like.
He assured there will be proper policing of policemen going forward, stressing they must operate within the dictates of the law and established code of conduct.
Mba said, if a policeman is doing anything wrong, citizens should take pictures and videos of the situation and send it to them for appropriate action.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.