Professor Yemi Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, (SAN) has reacted to the
disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad by the
Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu and the ongoing protest
calling for an end and reform in the Nigerian Force
Force.
The Vice President in his reaction on Monday said that the SARS
disbandment is the first step to Federal Government’s commitment to
the reform in the police.
In a statement by his spokesman Laolu Akande, he said that
government is not only committed to full-scale police reform but
also ensuring that wrongful acts are duly investigated and
prosecuted.
“The disbandment of SARS is the first step in our commitment to
extensive police reforms in order to ensure that the primary duty
of the police and other law enforcement agencies remains the
protection of lives and livelihood of our people.
“The President also spoke, a few minutes ago, about the
prosecution of all those (law enforcement agents) who have
committed wrongful acts. I think, all these are commitments that
have been made. But we must also understand that it is a process.
It is not an event. Reform is a process. We must show commitment.
Everyone must be interested, and we must stay focussed on the
issues.”
On the issue of the ongoing protests nationwide, he said “I
think the clear message is that there is a government commitment to
ensuring that the process of reform is done and those who have
committed wrongful acts are duly investigated and prosecuted. And
whatever replaces SARS is something that is acceptable, first of
all, in its compliance to all the tenets of the rule of law and
human rights.
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“These are all issues that we are very deeply worried about. All
of us are deeply concerned about it. Many young people have
complained to me. I have also been involved in many cases trying to
resolve these kinds of conduct.”
“I think it is a very good moment for the Police Force, a good
moment for law enforcement and for all of us. This is the time for
reform, a time for change and we are all committed to it.
“Everyone is committed to seeing a Police Force and also Law
Enforcement that will meet the expectations of the Nigerian people.
The purpose of law enforcement, the purpose of policing, is for the
safety of lives and livelihoods of Nigerians. So, we are all
committed to that, and I think that everyone is committed, we are
all very committed to it”, he added.
Osinbajo further noted that the IGP is committed to ensuring
that the unit is not only disbanded but will involve groups and
civil society in the participation of the reform.
“The most important thing is that SARS has been disbanded and
the IGP has committed to ensuring not only that it is disbanded but
also that whatever takes its place has the full participation of
civil society groups and all other stakeholders.”