A few days ago, a friend narrated to me how the Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) recovered his stolen vehicle and refused to release same to him. According to him, SARS Personnel have been driving the vehicle round the streets of Port Harcourt.
I asked him if he has lodged an official complaint. He confirmed to me that after his complaint, he was asked to bring N500,000 before his car would be returned to him. Of course, the car is still being enjoyed by SARS Operatives. This type of story is common across Rivers State. Exhibit vehicles have become the personal property of SARS operatives.
Only yesterday (Monday September 25, 2017) SARS bared their ugly fangs in a community in Emohua Local Government Area. Though the matter is still under investigation (Language of the Nigerian Police), news has it that an innocent Taxi Driver, Ajibade Ademisoye was brutally murdered in cold blood by SARS Operatives.
This reckless act of provocation led to protests across the area, which obstructed vehicular traffic and disrupted the economy of Emohua Local Government Area. Some of the protesting women stated that the SARS Operatives after killing Ajibade, were dragging his remains into a nearby bush before they raised the alarm. It took the timely intervention of Emohua Local Government Council officials for the protest not to snowball into avoidable violence.
The provocative acts of SARS in Rivers State are premeditated and aimed at destroying the state’s security architecture for political gains. At the base of this criminal conspiracy against Rivers people is the SARS Commander, Akin Fakorede.
Nothing that is happening is coincidental. Many have argued and I agree with them, that Rivers SARS has metamorphosed into the militant wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC). All they do is to provoke, annoy and instil fear in the people. After achieving this, APC politicians take to the airwaves to blame the Rivers State Government for these planned security infractions.
Over the last few days, the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State have been taking turns to defend the indicted State Special Anti-robbery Squad Commander, Mr Akin Fakorede.
To them, Akin Fakorede is God-sent, the best thing that has happened to the party. The Rivers APC Chairman threw caution to the wind when he stated that Governor Wike pointed out the sins of SARS and Fakorede because he ensured that PDP tasted defeat in a few constituencies during the last rerun elections.
In case you have forgotten, it was Akin Fakorede who personally led SARS operatives to invade Rivers East Senatorial District Collation Centre on December 12, 2016. Fakorede and his operatives beat up INEC officials, but were resisted by the people.
His job in Rivers State is cut out for him by the APC. When there is election–be the rigging agent. When there is no election – use SARS operatives to be a destabilising factor.
Governor Wike after due consideration of security information at his disposal, made official pronouncements which the Police High Command was expected to act upon. But as you know, we live in horrible times. The agents of the APC Federal Government in Rivers State are complicit in the crimes against the people.
The Official Police Signal with the title: “Police Wireless Message ” and Reference Number DT0: 121030/09/2017 —INGENPOL-X-FHQ ABUJA TO-INGENPOL SEC ABUJA, noted that the squad received a distress call on the kidnap of Mr Ifeanyi and immediately swung into action. According to the signal, they met the three SARS operatives robbing and a gun duel ensued. The operatives had taken Mr Ifeanyi to a Fidelity Bank ATM where they compelled him to withdraw N500,000 as ransom. Till date, this information has not been controverted by the Police High Command.
This is what Governor Wike said on the deadly criminal activities of Rivers SARS:
“For months on end, we have been receiving reports from traumatized victims who had been robbed of theirs valuables by SARS operatives under the guise of conducting searches on the victims. They employ several malevolent methods, including planting illicit drugs on their unsuspecting victims as bargaining chip or forcefully taking them to ATM boots to collect specified amount of money as ransom for their freedom.
“Furthermore, while the noticeable increase of kidnapping incidents along the East – West road and the Owerre – Port Harcourt road are worrisome, some of the rescued victims have reportedly pointed SARS operatives as the ones that are responsible for most of kidnappings along those roads. Although the veracity of these allegations can only be fully established through an independent probe, the recent killing of a SARS operative while carrying out a kidnap operation by the Inspector General of Police’s Special Squad clearly lends credence to SARS direct involvement in criminal activities across the State.”
Needless to say that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris did not investigate the grave indictment of this deadly department of the Police. Afterall, the SARS Commander is acting the APC script in Rivers State and the IGP is a notorious cheer leader of the APC.
To expect IGP Ibrahim Idris to investigate the crimes of the Rivers SARS is like asking a camel to pass through the eye of a niddle. The IGP has a phobia for independent investigations and is himself neck-deep in scandals.
The N120billion allegation by Senator Misau is under the carpet, while the shady circumstances of the 2015 murder of the Kano INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner is yet to be resolved.
It is sad that under this dispensation, security agencies work with politicians to compromise a state’s security architecture.
It is regrettable that one criminally minded police officer (Akin Fakorede) has been detailed to be an agent of destabilization in Rivers State. He has turned a security outfit into a violent terror contraption . The negative testimonies against SARS are enough to get any compassionate government worried. But, in issues concerning Rivers State, the APC Federal Government prefers to promote agents of insecurity, rather than support the peace building efforts of the Rivers State Government.
Fakorede must understand that he will one day account for his evil deeds. Working with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations, Mr Steven Hasso, Akin Fakorede has repeatedly undermined the security of the state. While investments are made to promote peace across the state, they work on the directive of a compromised Inspector General of Police to create platforms that will engender insecurity.
Playing politics with security is the greatest disservice that anyone can perpetrate against a state. The Inspector General of Police and Fakorede are using their positions to please their paymasters in the APC, while the security of the state suffers.
For the rest of us, the least we can do is to continue to throw up the illegal acts of these businessmen in uniform. We cannot afford to keep quiet in the interest of the safety of our people.
Our consolation is in the fact that the will of the people will prevail at the end. No matter the evil machinations of these police miscreants, Rivers State will remain peaceful. Thousands of Nigerians will continue to troop to the state and Governor Wike will consolidate on his delivery of pro-people projects.
Written by Simeon Nwakaudu
