Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. J.S Okutepa has stated that the disbandment of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General of Police is not the complete solution to the brutality being perpetrated by the Police.
The learned silk stated this in a statement made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, noting that there is more to be done aside disbanding them.
Meanwhile, he noted that there is a need to reevaluate the character of people being recruited to become Police personnel.
“Honestly scraping SARs or FSARs is not an answer to police brutality. Disbanding them is not the answer.
“The problem is with the character of persons recruited into the force and the inability of the state to adequately fund the police.” He said.
In addition, he said the corruption in the system aids brutality to be meted out for their personal gains, adding that there is an inability to do investigation devoid of being brutal.
“The problem is in the corruption in the system that tolerates the police to be brutal for profits.
“The problem is our inability to do modern scientific investigations devoid of brutality.”
He added that, “The problem is in our inability to apply sanctions when wrongs are done.”
In addition, the learned silk noted that there is a need to properly screen persons being recruited to the Police.
“The problem is in us. Those personnel needs to be profiled and screened. How do you recruit thieves to police thieves”, he said.
