SARS Operatives Did Not Attack Female Corps Member…Police
The Police Command in Anambra has absolved operatives of Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Awkuzu of complicity in the attack and molestation of a female corps member serving in Ogbaru, Anambra state.
SP Haruna Mohammed, Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra said this while speaking honour correspondent.
It would be recalled that the corps member simply identified as Seun was on Sept. 17 humiliated by some unclad policemen who stormed her residence at about 2.00am and forcefully broke into her apartment.
The operatives who said they were looking for internet fraudsters allegedly manhandled her and made her dress up in their presence before whisking her away to a Police station.
Media reports had accused SARS of perpetrating the act without efforts from the Unit Commander or the Police Command.
Haruna maintained that the matter was still under investigation but exonerated SARS as being responsible for the unprofessional act.
He said the operational modalities of the team that stormed the corps member’s house did not fit into that of SARS.
According to Haruna, SARS does not use branded vehicles and from the information available to us, they were not SARS operatives.
Interaction between our Correspondent and an official of SARS also alluded to the fact that SARS did not perpetrate the act.
According to the source, SARS people don’t stand on the road, they don’t look for ‘yahoo boys’ like that, SARS respond to petitions and violent crime matters.
“I can assure you that SARS was not responsible, unfortunately the media just relied on assumption to lay it on SARS because of the bad name they have labeled the Unit,” he said.
Also speaking, Kehinde Aremu, Coordinator of National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra said the Police Commissioner, Mr John Abang had apologised to the victim, her family and the NYSC for the unprofessional conduct of his men.
Aremu said the Police command had also gone further to fish out the culprits who were identified as operatives of the Special Anti Cult Squad (SPACS).
He said Seun also identified the officers who had in turn apologised to her.
The coordinator said he was satisfied with the response of CP Abang who not only ordered investigation into the matter but ensured that those who abused corps member were brought to book.
“The CP has apologised and has also produced the perpetrators who were later discovered to be operatives of SPACS; they have also tendered apologies to Seun.
“The Corps members and members of her family have expressed satisfaction with the way the matter was pursued and have given me their assurances that there is no more hostility as the matter is over.
“For us in the NYSC we are happy with the CP for his fatherly and proactive role in the whole saga. The NYSC hope to enjoy robust and cordial relationship with the Nigerian Police.
