Days After Dissolution, Zamfara Gov Continues His Defence Of SARS

Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has insisted that the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was important for the maintenance of peace in the state.

Matawalle stated this after a meeting of 19 Northern State Governors held in Kaduna.

The meeting centred on security issues and the state of the nation.

Mattawalle’s insistence on the continuation of SARS comes amid nationwide protests against the unit, despite its dissolution by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammad Adamu.

Adamu had succumbed to widespread criticisms by members of the public, mostly youths, who took to the streets in various parts of the country, protesting with the hashtag, #ENDSARS.

The unit had been accused of brutality, harassment and extra-judicial killings.

A statement issued on Friday by Mattawalle’s Special Adviser, Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, said his principal reiterated the commitment of his administration to do the right thing at all times and to support anyone doing the right thing too.

Bappa quoted the governor as saying, “We have recorded tremendous development in the area of peace building in Zamfara state with the commitment and professional contribution and support of the SARS of the Nigeria Police.”

He said the unit had helped a lot in reducing banditry and hooliganism in “our communities in the state”, describing the sudden scrapping of the unit as amounting to throwing away the baby with the bathwater.

The governor also said, “I will personally seek audience with Mr President on this issue. We need the FSARS or its equivalent in Zamfara state because we have seen their positive impact in spite their alleged excesses.”

The meeting of the governors was held on Thursday and attended by about 12 of them, while others were represented by their deputies,

The governors reviewed the ongoing  #Endsars agitation across the country and called for peaceful conduct by the protesters.

The governors, in a communique, read by their Chairman, the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, asked the protesters not to allow their demands to be hijacked by hoodlums and miscreants.

They also stressed the indivisibility of the country, adding that its unity was not negotiable and must be protected by all.