FSARS: #EndSARS Convener Fumes, Says ‘IGP Has Taken Us Back To The Dark Days’

The convener of the #EndSARS Movement, Segun Awosanya has kicked against the directive by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to decentralise the operations of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

Naija News had reported earlier that the IGP decentralised SARS operations earlier centralised by his predecessor, Ibrahim Idris.

Adamu also disbanded the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) with immediate effect.

This online news platform understands that the new directive means FSARS will now be domiciled under the direct supervision of the Commissioners of Police in the 36 states of the Federation.

Apparently displeased with the development, Awosanya took to the micro-blogging site, Twitter to kick against it, says the new police boss has “taken us back to the dark days we protested against”.

Awosanya said the new rearrangement is going to fuel corruption and lure the Commissioners of Police into deploying SARS as political party thugs, noting that the commissioners will amplify the “impunity they’re executing via the Police with their control of SARS”.

His words: “This is NOT a good omen. The New IG Of @PoliceNG has taken us back to the dark days we protested against at a critical period such as this (days to a major election). There’s a reason why FSARS was taken off the control of Commissioners.

“This rearrangement is just going to fuel corruption and lure the Commissioners of police into deploying SARS as political party Thugs. The stop gap worked because the Commissioners don’t control SARS.

“With this order they’ll amplify the impunity they’re executing via the Police with their control of SARS. This is yet another setback in my own opinion. The negative impact of this will be felt in a matter of days. #EndSARS Objective may return. #ReformPoliceNG

“We were hoping however measured that that progress will be made under the new IGP but this action demonstrates the lack of understanding of the sacrifices the collective populace have made in restoring order. This won’t augur well for the Election & Trust Of the collective.

“I commiserate with patriotic officers within the system and I advise that they brace themselves for the struggle that will follow. We have made tremendous progress and this development unless reviewed will unleash more chaos. #ReformPoliceNG

“To the people, the disbandment Of FSARS means they are no longer a federal entity responding restrictedly to distress calls bordering on Armed Robbery and Kidnapping cases. It means they are at the beck & call of the commissioner of Police of each state.

“A formation that has failed us once before and killed many of our youth across Nigeria. This no doubt reflect the preparation in desperation for election from the pers scribe of voter suppression. We the people will stand our grounds. Brace yourselves. #ReformPoliceNG

“This is nothing but a Trojan Horse. FSARS is not disbanded as contrived but simply drafted under the Police Commissioners. Same folks ordering Policemen to abduct your wards for ransom. They have more powers now. This will not stand. #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG,” he added.

In a related development, the Lead Attorney of #ENDSARS campaign, Barrister Abdul Mahmud, told Naija News earlier that the “struggle continues” in reaction to the directive given by IGP Adamu.

Meanwhile, Naija News reports that #EndSARS campaign is a coalition of Non Governmental Organizations (NGO), involved in the current citizens’ push for the reform of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, more particularly the agitation for the scrapping of the Special Anti-robbery Squad, SARS.