By Onwuasoanya FCC Jones, PhD
SARS used to be the most dreaded police squad in Nigeria, as they were ruthless in dealing with criminals and the mere mention of them got even the most hardened criminal to comport themselves and know that something bad is in the offing for them. But, some members of SARS became abusive and lawless. Some of them, maybe, an infinitesimal number of them, derailed from their major responsibility of pursuing criminals to avail themselves to be used by individuals to harass citizens on issues that should ordinarily be civil. There were incidents of extortion and extra-judicial killings and as well as inexplicable disappearance of suspects, blamed on SARS.
However, it bears repeating that SARS, as notorious as they were painted to be, and might actually have been, were very helpful in curtailing crime across the country, especially, in crime prone cities.
When the EndSars protest started, I was one of the very few voices that spoke out against the push to scrap SARS. I argued then, that while there were bad eggs in SARS, it does not justify any attempt to scrap such a useful police squad. The speedy accession to the demands of the mob, gave impetus to some criminals. Our police force was demystified, as officers and men of the Police were slaughtered easily by criminals and police ammunition were looted at will. It was the speedy scrapping of SARS that gave rise to the formation of criminal and terrorist outfits like the ESN and its affiliates.
All over the world, efficient police squads are targets of criminal syndicates for negative media campaigns and misrepresentations. Each mistake of the squad is given the loudest publicity. Most times, sincere and patriotic citizens are drawn, unknowingly into advancing this campaign, sponsored or instigated by criminal elements.
Tiger Base, the anti-kidnapping police squad in Owerri, Imo State, has come under severe media scrutiny, and there are not a few people who have bought into the campaign, even though, they might not have the most basic knowledge of the operations of the squad.
I cannot in good conscience deny that there are some bad eggs within the Tiger Base, who have misused their powers to harass ordinary citizens, but these bad eggs are certainly among the smallest fraction when compared with the highly efficient and courageous crime busters in the squad. While there might have been incidents where innocent people fell victim to the harassment of some members of this squad, the great majority of those who have been detained at the base are criminals, terrorists and their accomplices. I agree with people who argue that without Tiger Base, Owerri might have become a ghetto of sorts, because criminals were raring to overrun that city, but have been constantly repelled by ebullient squad members of Tiger Base.
I have reason to believe that the concerted campaign against Tiger Base is sponsored or instigated by people who do not like the relative peace we are enjoying in Imo State, especially, in Owerri, the capital city. I believe that the Nigeria Police Force , especially, the Imo State Command has taken note of the complaints and are doing its best to punish those officers who might have overstepped their bounds, but any idea of dismantling that squad must be very far from the thoughts of the Police.
Tiger Base represents more good than bad, and those who wish for a crime free Imo must do their best to encourage these courageous and patriotic officers while we continue to encourage the Police authorities to continue to fish out the bad eggs within the squad and also ensure that adequate respect for human rights is observed in their operations.