A former commandant of the now-dissolved Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), CSP Vandefan Tersugh (RTD) said it wasn’t criminal for men of the former tactical unit to go through phones and digital devices of youths because of “the modern crime strategies deployed by young Nigerians”.
Tersugh who appeared on AIT Focus Nigeria on Monday was responding to a question regarding why men of the former special unit derailed from fighting armed robbery to harassing youth and invading their privacy.
“When you look at modern crime strategies evolved by youths you will realise that kidnapping is done by using phones in luring people to locations where they can be captured,” he said.
“Also, when people are robbed, their phones are taken away and can be found in the possession of youths during investigations. More so, the age range of most people who commit crimes in Nigeria is between 15-35.”
The former SARS commandant further said it was not criminal for the police to demand going through the phones and digital devices of youths, stressing that it is the reactions of young Nigerians that determine the next line of action which the officers take.
“When I stop you on the road and demand to go through your phone I don’t think I’ve committed any crime because I only asked a simple question. It is your answers that will lead me to go beyond where I started.
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— Africa Independent Television (@AIT_Online) October 12, 2020
