Robbery, has taken a new dimension in Rivers State capital as gun men in Special anti Robbery Squad (SARS) uniform constantly invade shops in the streets of Port Harcourt, where many victims were maimed, wounded or dead.
The incident of Saturday 16th of December 2017, is a pointer to this which the victims and the streets where they operated will never forget in a haste.
On that day, at around 9pm, it was said that a group of young men on SARS uniform with bullet proof, in a black Highlander Jeep, with heavy machine guns bagged into two provision shops at No 19 Nnewi/Abakeliki Street, as they were packing their goods to close for the day.
According to the victims interviewed and eye witnesses , in the first shop Madam Mary gave them her recharge card bag the money inside the bag and her hand set and they wanted to enter the second shop where out of fear, a 15 year old Onyinyechi locked the protector.
They showed her their guns and asked her to open the protectors as her parents had gone to church. She felt reluctant to open the protector and on wasting time, they shot her on the leg and was badly injured and she yielded to their demand, while a stray bullet hit her neighbor madam Mary the first shop.
Onyinyechi is still receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital. And in a phone interview, Onyinyechi said that she thanked God for saving her life, as she is gradually recovering.
In the same phone interview with her mother, Madam Happiness said that the whole situation was still embarrassing, shocking and unbelievable as men on SARS uniform could operate in such a degree of lowness as to shot a child of the age of their children.
According to her, they made away with all the money they sold for that day including her little savings, her husband’s mobile phone, her neigbour’s money and recharge cards and her handset.
But above all, she thanked God for saving her daughter from the hands of those heartless robbers who were poised to kill anyone who challenged them.
Again and in a similar situation, the Tanker drivers have been complaining bitterly on the harassment they get from men on SARS uniform, who usually force hundreds of litters of fuel or diesel from them.
According to them, this has been going on until they came up with a measure of blocking such cars/vehicles before reaching a compromise.
The question which people do ask and which remains unanswered is whether these are the real SARS or robbers on SARS uniform.
But it will be recalled that the Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike had voiced against their operations in his state, with evidence, calling on the Federal Government to proscribe it because according to him majority of the criminal activities in Rivers are master minded by the men of SARS.
