Cross River PCRC condemns anti-robbery squad protest

Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Cross River chapter has condemned the current protest on the scrapping of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police Force.

Speaking at a rally organized by PCRC in support of the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigerian Police Force, Mr Michael Edem, Chairman of PCRC in the state said that SARS has reduced cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the state.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as: “We stand with SARS”, stop meddling into police affairs, Cross River stand with SARS”, “Safety of life assured with SARS amongst others”, Edem said it was wrong for some group of organisations to clamour for the scrapping of SARS, adding that it was a misplacement of priority on the side of some groups.

According to him, the rally was held in support of the activities of SARS, adding SARS had contributed in reducing crime rate to the barest minimum nationwide.

“What we are doing here today is to sensitise the public against the call to scrap SARS. SARS has always responded timely to emergency calls. We are appealing to the government not to scrap SARS because their role in curbing cases of kidnapping and armed robbery nationwide is commendable.

“No security agency in Nigeria today is 100 per cent perfect, and as such we must bear with them on their shortcomings”, he said.

While he called for adequate funding of the police, he also said that it would go a long way in helping the force to carry out its constitutional duties creditably.

Another member of the committee, Mr Charles Edet, a trader, said it was inappropriate to end SARS, rather, he urged the police authority to train and re-train members of the squad to always obey human rights in their activities.

“What I will rather prefer is a complete restructuring of the squad because even armed robbers and kidnapping are always afraid of SARS”, he said.

Other members of the public in the Calabar, who joined the rally in support of the activities of SARS, urged the government to always organise training workshops for members of the squad.