By Musa Baba Adamu
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has condemned the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, Omo-Agege expressed concern over the incessant cases of extrajudicial killings, harassment, illegal arrest and extortion of defenceless citizens by some officials attached to SARS in different parts of Nigeria.
Specifically, the Deputy President of the Senate cited the alleged shooting of a man by operatives of SARS in his constituency in Ughelli, Delta State, over the victim’s alleged refusal to allow the operatives to search his phone, as well as another shooting of a youth in the town by men of the ‘Operation Delta Safe’, over the victim’s alleged refusal to allow the operatives to search his phone to buttress his argument for comprehensive reforms and overhaul of security units in the country.
He called on the police authorities to fish out the culprits for prosecution, stressing that this will serve as deterrent to others.
While calling on security personnel to always maintain the rules of engagement, the lawmaker urged youth in the area to exercise utmost restraint while investigation is ongoing.
“Those who are authorised to bear arms and maintain law and order in the country ought to understand that such must be exercised with responsibility, especially when human life is sacrosanct.
“I hope those who are quick at pulling the trigger would adopt strategies that would foster mutual understanding between them and those they are tasked to protect, in their bid to save the lives of Nigerians. It would be a depressing twist of fate for them to be listed among those contributing to the list of the dead in this challenging period globally,” he said.
