Rivers govt wants SARS boss redeployed

Gov. Nyesom Wike

Rivers Gov, Nyesom Wike

Rivers Gov, Nyesom Wike

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The Rivers state government has warned that the people might be forced to take steps necessary to protect themselves if the Commander of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, FSARS, Akin Fakorode, is not redeployed for what it called unprofessional modus operandi of the elite police outfit in the state.

Emman Okah, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene urgently and save the country’s national assets in the state.

He accused Fakorede-led SARS of sundry offences ranging from kidnapping, extortion, robbery and rape.

However, in a radio programme, Fakorede dismissed the claims by the Rivers Government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he was posted to do the biddings of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fakorode described FSARS as just one of the elite cops in the Police under the leadership and directive of the state Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, whose primary duty is to provide security for all persons, no matter the political persuasions.

The SARS Commander who fielded questions on a live radio show in Port Harcourt said the public deserves protection.

“Are members of APC or PDP deserving of protection? The answer is absolutely yes. We are employed and paid to provide security for all persons because lives of people are sacrosanct,” he stated.

On his reaction to the allegations by Governor Nyesom Wike that SARS under his leadership has been involved in heinous crimes like armed robbery and kidnapping, he said that he takes the criticisms of the governor for the security body to perform better. But said that SARS members were not immune to prosecution and if there were cases with evidence, the matter should be reported and matter would be investigated. If true, such officer will be prosecuted.

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On the calls by Federal lawmakers from the state for his redeployment and activities of the Unit investigated, Fakorode stated that he cannot resign just because the governor or anybody for that matter said so. “I am not under the paid employment of the state government. Besides, redeployment of officers in the force is a routine. What is a fact is that most of the allegations against us are hearsay. I challenge journalists to utilize the Freedom Of Information Act to dig into allegations and verify whether they are true,” he said

On allegations of rights abuses like the one made by the governor that some SARS officers kidnapped someone and forcefully took him to the ATM machine of Fidelity Bank branch in Rumuola, Port Harcourt, where the victim withdrew N500,000. He said the report is strange but challenged journalists to put their investigative skills into work by finding out from Fidelity Bank if such transaction ever took place to know what to believe.

The SARS Commander made it clear that he cannot absorb all officers and men of SARS of any breach of rules of engagement. “This is because I am not omniscient. But what is clear is that no policeman is above the law,” he added.

In an answer to a question from a caller on whether he was the same person captured in a photograph holding an umbrella shading Dakuku Peterside, Director-General of NIMASA and former governorship candidate of APC from the rains, he answered by explaining no matter the position we occupy today, we are first of all humans and as such we are obliged to render help as petty as providing umbrella to shade any Nigerian being beaten by the rain. I don’t know that should attract so much negative attribution just because some persons want to play dirty politics making the photo go viral.

He explained that he had no regrets because as human and a police officer he is bound to provide security to anybody no matter the person’s position in the society.

Commander of SARS, Akin Fakorede, appealed to journalists to always investigate stories and rumours woven around his officers and men to puncture lies for the benefit of the people.

It would also be recalled that Governor Wike has at different fora accused the SARS Commander of leading his men in committing crimes like armed robberies, kidnappings and extortion of the public in the state. Fakorede described all the allegations against him as false and that he would not resign from his job as a police officer because the governor or any other person says so.

The Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Idris dismissed allegations against the SARS Commander as “nonsense”, when he spoke to journalists in Aso Villa, Abuja some weeks ago.

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