SARS Did Not Kill Anybody In Delta – Said Keyamo

Festus Keyamo has asked Nigerians to disregard the reports that some officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS shot to death one person in Ughelli, Delta State.

According to the Minister of State, Labour and Employment in a thread of tweets on his microblogging site account on Sunday, October 4, men of the controversial unit of the Nigeria Police Force didn’t kill anybody as alleged in some quarters.

Keyamo noted that the Delta State Police Commissioner and a sibling to the alleged victim, Ochuko confirmed that his brother is not dead.

He, however, disclosed that the man attacked was alive and currently been treated. The minister noted further that the attack was not carried out by SARS officials but by operatives of the Operation Delta Safe.

Naija News reported earlier that the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad has been accused of killing a man around Wetland Hotel, Ughelli in Delta State.

However, giving clarification on the report that the young man attack is dead, Keyamo tweeted; “I just spoke with both the Commissioner of Police, Delta State & the Area Commander in Ughelli where the unfortunate incident involving a young man & the Police took place yesterday. I also spoke with Ochuko, the victim’s brother. I was born, bred and raised in that same town.”

“All of them said the victim is alive & receiving treatment. Whilst I totally condemn the extra-judicial killings by SARS & other Police outfits against defenceless citizens and call for comprehensive reforms and overhaul of the system, some facts of this case are as follows.”

“The outfit involved in this case is called Operation Delta Safe and not SARS (b) the victim was not shot as confirmed by his brother but fell out of the Police vehicle when being taken to the station after arrest. The brother said he was pushed; the Police said he jumped.”

“This is a picture of the victim in hospital this morning, showing injuries from the fall (c) the Police stopped to pick him up after the fall, but an angry mob had already gathered and the Police fled and left the victim (d) A Good Samaritan picked him & took him to hospital.”

The minister urged residents of Ughelli not to resolve to violence in the name of revenge. He said, “Finally, I wish to appeal to the youths in Ughelli not to resort to violence and/or destruction of lives and properties. I am on top of this matter and though the victim is alive, I will be urging the authorities to still investigate the conduct of the Police in this matter.”

Meanwhile, one Pastor Kayode Ogunleye has been killed by unknown gunmen in a forest on the Aramoko-Ijero-Ekiti highway in Ekiti State.