Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has said that the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) does not guarantee an end to police brutality in the country.
The CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, stated this, on Tuesday, while speaking at a press briefing, in Abuja.
Ikenga urged the EndSARS protesters to demand for a total reform of the police force and an immediate end to brutality by all the security agencies in the country.
The CUPP spokesman saluted the EndSARS protesters for their resilience and courage in demanding for the disbandment of SARS, noting that they have achieved the first victory.
According to him, “The disbandment of the dreaded squad by police authorities on Sunday is the first victory recorded by the protesters who have succeeded in making it loud and clear to all who care to listen that true power rests with the people and not the oppressors.
“Killings by operatives of the disbanded SARS did not start now but the government failed to address the issue until now when the people of Nigeria took their destinies in their hands.
“Those killer SARS men are still walking the streets free and the IG says they are going to be redeployed to other units of the police force when they may likely continue their nefarious activities and even influence others to join them. They need to be arrested and prosecuted while their victims get justice and compensation.”
Ikenga added “For students of history, this is of course not the first time SARS was dissolved, suspended, disbanded or renamed. The dreaded squad appears to have nine lives, it keeps coming back.
“We therefore call on well-meaning Nigerians not to be satisfied with tokenism in the name of disbanding SARS. Let those who failed to secure the lives and property of our people despite huge budgetary allocations to security every year be made to account for their sins.”