The Northern Governors Forum has explained to President Muhammadu Buhari, why the region have kicked against the ban of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
The Chairman of the Forum and Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong told Buhari on Thursday in Abuja, that SARS operatives had helped the northern region to tackle insecurity in some states.
“As SARS is banned, we are now looking forward to an opinion because most of the states in the north said no.
“They want SARS because SARS help them. A lot of SARS operatives help them. Governor of Borno said if not for SARS, they would not have been surviving today, Niger and almost all parts too.
“If we are addressing it like that, what is going wrong in some places? Is it the process of recruitment? Is it the character of people?” the governor asked.
While noting that his colleagues in the region want the entire police architecture to be reformed, the governor said states like Borno and Niger have benefitted from the efforts of SARS operatives in fighting terrorism and banditry.
Briefing State House correspondents shortly after his meeting with Buhari, Lalong said he also briefed the president on the state of community policing in Plateau.
“As the chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, I am here to also update him (Buhari) and to remind him about certain issues discussed with Mr President that have now taken place.
“For instance, when we had the challenge of insecurity all over the north, we called for community policing.
“So, when you see things being done, it’s good to also update him. Things are going our way now because the training of community Policemen is going on at various zones, particularly for me in Pleateau State.
“About 70 percent of those we recruited for community policing are now in Makurdi undergoing training. Just yesterday, I appointed a new coordinator, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), to take care of it.
“This is to tell you that things about security should be taken seriously if we have to keep the nation united.
“Secondly, we are also aware that so many issues are cropping up and people are making suggestions which Mr President has gladly accepted.
“Some of the recommendations are disbandment of the SARS and also refunding and reform of the Police.
“These are issues that require all leaders’ contributions to Mr President so that we can have a way forward in addressing the national security of the state.’’
He stated that not all the state governors in the northern part of the country were in support of the disbandment of SARS, saying that some of the governors wanted a reformed SARS instead of the disbandment.
“Some people (including governors), said they don’t want SARS, some said they want SARS, but a reformed SARS.
“They want a reformed SARS because as far as they are concerned, some of these SARS operatives have helped them in addressing insecurity.
“If there are bad ones, holistically, bring them together and reform them.
“So, our opinion and conclusion at that stage is that let us not just say that we are throwing away the baby with bath water. If there are good ones, you don’t chase them away.
“So, as SARS is banned, we are now looking forward to the other options because most of the States in the north said no. They want SARS because SARS helps them.
“Borno said without SARS, he would not have been surviving today. Niger also wants SARS.
“So, if you are addressing this issue of SARS, you need to know what is wrong in some places. Is it the process of recruitment? Is it the character of the people? You can’t say because somebody is wrong, everybody is wrong in the country.
“These are some of the issues we concluded yesterday. It’s for the Chairman (Gov. Fayemi of Ekiti), to go and meet Mr President to still look at this issue holistically and critically so that we understand where we are going.
“On a whole, we all agreed that there must be general reform within the Police. But you can’t do general reform without proper funding.’’
Lalong stated that the government must equally address the problems facing the NPF, including its financial and logistics challenges.
