The Imo State Commissioner has promptly reacted to our story on the above issue which alleged that Orlu residents are presently harassed and exploited by operatives of SARS.
According to a release signed by SP Ikeokwu Godson Orlado, the State police Public Relations Officer on behalf of the Commissioner and reads in parts, “the attention of the Command has been drawn to a publication in a local tabloid of 24th October, 2019, with the lead caption “Orlu residents cry out over SARS harassment, in which it narrated some purported stories of harassment/intimidation of some individuals by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The command wishes to state in clear terms that the publishers of the tabloid made it difficult for the command to investigate the matter and get to the root of it and possibly commence disciplinary action against the officers, as victim(s) did not report to the Police authority either within the said area or to the Commissioner of Police.
As much as the command does not hold brief nor try to cover up the misdeeds of its erring officers, one may be tempted to think that some of the victims involved (if true) might have been arrested due to serious criminal offences, it is on record that the command has arrested so may criminal elements around the area, and stolen items, properties and arms recovered.
The command therefore wishes to invite the victims or any other member(s) of the public with similar complaint or any genuine grievance(s) to come forward with an official report to either the Area Commander of the area, the Police Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) domiciled in the office of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) or the Commissioner of Police for prompt and decisive action. Journalists are also advised to confirm and balance their report(s) before going to the press.
The command’s loyalty to the Nigerian people remains unflinching, unalloyed and total, please”, it concluded.
