Amidst clamours to end SARS, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has called for support for the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and for the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), to help check the rising crime rate.
Peterside made the call while speaking on the side-lines of the ongoing meeting of the G7++ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea Group in Lagos.
While commending the efforts of the SARS squad of the Nigeria police for enhancing security in Nigeria, he noted that a well policed nation will have a multiplier effect on security in the maritime sector.
He noted that changes in country has made reforms for most institutions of Government inevitable, the NIMASA DG said that SARS is one of such organs of government now in need of reform. This he explained will go a long way to enhance their operations.
He also noted that Nigerians should support the Police Force, and that the Police should be reformed like other Agencies of Government in order to perform optimally.
While condemning those calling for the scrapping of SARS as mischievous, Dakuku restated his believe that strengthening and reforming the anti-robbery squad is rather the way forward to enhance their capacity.
“I support the good work of SARS and wish to add that like any other agency of government, it should be reorganized and strengthened to function better. In every society, without the police, there can be no law and order,” he said.
Peterside further pointed out that SARS has been very instrumental in policing in Nigeria, particularly, Rivers State.
He also added that it is beneficiaries of crime that are opposed to the operations of the Anti-Crime outfit.
“Nobody could deny the fact that Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has been very potent in tackling violent crimes and helped to reduce incidents of crimes and build confidence in the people,” he said.
