×

Most Widely Read Newspaper

Direct IG to transfer SARS commander, Rivers tells Buhari

police-IG

Police IG Ibrahim Idris

Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Government has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to transfer the Commander of the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Mr. Akin Fakorede, out of the state.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Emah Okah, who made this call while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday, alleged that SARS, under the watch of Fakorede, had continued to rape, kill and extort money from innocent members of the public.

Okah, who cited examples of how a taxi driver in the state, Mr. Ajibade Ademisoye, was killed by operatives of SARS several weeks ago, added that the matter had been swept under the carpet even when the wife of the deceased had continued to cry out for justice.

The commissioner added, “However, Mr Akin Fakorede has added a new dimension to the story, all in a bid to avoid culpability. During the radio programme on Saturday 14th October, 2017, Mr Akin Fakorede said Mr. Ajibade Ademisoye was found in the midst of 11 other cultists at the time of his death.

“As we speak, the other 11 have not been arrested and no trial has taken place to adjudge them cultists. Furthermore, he said the hospital where they took the remains of the late Mr. Ajibade Ademisoye to confirm his death also found two live ammunition on him. (This is similar to the character of planting exhibits on persons to incriminate them at all cost). The dead cannot speak.”

The commissioner alleged that apart from the atrocities committed by SARS operatives during the 2015 elections and the rerun as well as extrajudicial killings, SARS operatives had also been involved in armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, planting of incriminating evidence on innocent people or their property, illegal arrest and detention.

He added, “We wish to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, fellow Nigerians and indeed the international community to the atrocities committed in Rivers State by the federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad under the command of Mr. Akin Fakorede and the deliberate refusal of the Inspector-General of Police as well as the Police Service Commission to reprimand or transfer Mr. Akin Fakorede out of Rivers State Federal SARS Command despite repeated demands.

“For the avoidance of doubts, the Rivers State Government is not after the person of Mr. Akin Fakorede, but the odious methods he employs in doing his job and the consequences.

“It is on record that since 2015, the Rivers State Government has been making calls for the investigation of the activities of SARS and the sanctioning of its commander in Rivers State, but all that fell on deaf ears.

“The Rivers State Government has accused him and his men of organised election rigging, extrajudicial killings, armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, planting of incrimination evidence on innocent people or their property, illegal arrest and detention, inhuman and degrading treatment of innocent people and rape.”

He alleged that the SARS commander was assigned to disorganise the security architecture of the state and foist an atmosphere of crime infestation until the 2019 elections where he would be expected to deliver the state to the opposition party at all cost.

“Mr. Fakorede was brought to Rivers State through the influence of an inner cabinet minister for the purposes mentioned above and that is why Mr. Akin Fakorede is untouchable. The hands of the IGP and Police Service Commission are tied,” he stated.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, said he would need to take permission before reacting to the matter, adding that the police would not want to take issue with the state government.

“We are not going to take issue with them (Rivers State Government). I have no permission to speak on that matter. I will speak on it if I am permitted to do so,” Omoni stressed.

Also, the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Chris Finebone, dismissed Okah’s claim that SARS was an armed wing of his party.

Finebone said, “Everybody knows that SARS is a creation to attend to extremely violent robbery. To the best of our knowledge, SARS was established long before the two political parties.

“So, it behoves any person to prove that SARS is an armed wing of the APC. If Emma Okah cannot prove it, then he should bow his head in shame.”

Fakorede had, in a recent radio programme, denied any involvement of his men in crime in the state.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

 

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Join The Punch Newspapers Channel