Anambra Government fires one-time and infamous head of Awkuzu SARS, retired CSP James Nwafor, hired as Obiano’s security aide.

Gov. Willie Obiano has dismissed CSP James Nwafor as a security aide and ordered an investigation into his past as head of Awkuzu SARS.

The Governor dropped Nwafor like a hot potato at the onset of the ongoing #EndSARS youth protests in Nigeria.

The retired Superintendent was a poster child for police human rights violations by the disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS).

His name evoked fear when he headed the dreaded Police crime-fighting Squad – known as Awkuzu SARS – in Anambra State.

His reputation as a nemesis for men of the underworld may have recommended him to Gov. Obiano for appointment.

Nwafor suffered a double loss yesterday when government formally announced his dismissal as security aide to Governor Obiano.

His ordeal is far from over as government is now investigating allegations of extrajudicial killings by the retired chief superintendent.

“He will face prosecution if found guilty of any of the alleged offences,” a government spokesperson said in a statement.

Anambra’s decision to fire CSP Nwafor is also a direct fallout of the National Economic Council meeting.

The National Economic Council convened an emergency meeting on Thursday 15 October to discuss ways of ending youth protests against the police.

Governors were mandated to reach out to and calm the youths in their states and direct the police on how to cope with the protests.

Each state was empowered to empanel a quasi-judicial body to investigate allegations of grave human rights violations against SARS.

In response, Anambra has set up a 20-member investigation panel, which was later to be enlarged to 24 members.

A presidential panel on police reforms had earlier accepted a five-point demand by youths to end the protests.

The youths demanded that police stop using brute force against protesters and unconditionally release those arrested.

They also pressed for justice and compensation for victims, psychological evaluation of policemen, and improvements in police pay.

Most states, including Enugu, have moved swiftly to implement the measures.

Slug: Anambra fires CSP Nwafor; orders probe

Cover Photo: (c) Pius Utomi Ekpei. All rights reserved.

Author

  • Ogbuagu Bob Anikwe, a veteran journalist and message development specialist, is now a community journalism advocate and publisher of Enugu Metro. Contact him on any of the channels below.

If you love this, click a button below to share the knowledge