CLAIM: Beat up any SARS who tries to check your account details, alleges blog post who attributed it to IGP.
FALSE: The Former Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris only warned the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) to desist from checking citizens Bank Account details; when they were still active.
Full Text:
A web link has been making the rounds on Facebook headlined, “Beat up any SARS who tries to check your Facebook or account details, you have my backing – IGP tell Nigerians”. This same post has been found on some other blogs; some with different headlines- but the very same message.
Background:
The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) is a unit of the Nigeria Police saddled with the responsibility of fighting robbery. However, there have been several complaints about this unit; such as extortion and human rights violation. This consequently led to some activists championing an #EndSars campaign in a bid to reform the Nigeria Police.
Verification:
Interestingly, Dubawa discovered that this post was a plagiarised news report from a PUNCH newspaper publication. The said report came amid complaints on social media to end SARS. Succinctly, it was a strict warning against checking of bank account details; every other detail in the report was true except the headline.
The headline had no connection with the body of the news report; while the headline was talking about beating SARS, the body was a talk from the police boss to the officials.
More so, Bashir Ahmad, President Muhammadu Buhari media aide tweeted that the current Inspector General of Police disbanded SARS on January 21, 2019.
Conclusion
The former Inspector-General of Police never said citizens should beat up SARS; rather, he gave a strict warning to his officials on checking citizens bank account details. Dubawa constantly warns media consumer to be wary of sensational headlines…
