The call for the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police on Monday took a dramatic twist on Monday as many groups organised rallies both for and against the demand.

A coalition of civil society groups had issued a 21-day ultimatum for the scrapping of SARS, “failing which we will be compelled to resort to other measures to embarrass them (government) into taking an action.”

The #EndSARS coalition, which staged a protest at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, also demanded the investigation of various allegations against SARS operatives and prosecution of indicted personnel by the government on Monday.

The convener of the protest, Segun Awosanya, equally asked the Police Service Commission to set up a panel to reform the Nigeria Police Force.

But the police high command in Abuja has promised to investigate all complaints and allegations against the operatives of the SARS.

The force also said any officer indicted for human rights abuses and professional misconduct would be sanctioned and eased out of the police.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Joshak Habila, that the complaints against SARS on the social media were being compiled by the Force Public Relations unit for further investigation and action.

He said this while addressing protesters led by the Deputy National Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee, Sanusi Ajiya, who marched to the force headquarters, Abuja after a rally at the Eagle Square in support of the SARS on Monday.

Habila assured the protesters that all the allegations against SARS operatives would be probed and necessary action taken against errant operatives.

He noted that the misdeeds of a few bad eggs in the unit was not enough reason to dismantle the squad, adding that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, should be supported to reposition the unit as he promised.

However, scores of youths in  Kwara State on Monday protested against the alleged excesses and misconduct of members of SARS.

One of the leaders of the protesters, Mr. Yomi Akande,  in an interview said that it was high time the FG removed SARS from the police force.

The Kwara State police commissioner, Mr. Lawan Ado, said the police command would not condone any human abuses and excesses of  the  SARS  personnel.

He urged members of the public with authentic report of misconduct of policemen including personnel of SARS to report to him.

But another coalition of civil society groups and the Police Community Relations Committee in Ogun State have expressed their support for the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the state.

The groups, including all transport unions and other security outfits, after a solidarity walk in support of SARS in Ogun State on Monday, said they distanced themselves from the #EndSARS campaign.

Presenting a press release after the walk, the Chairman of the PCRC in Ogun State, Alhaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, said the committee took an exception to the ongoing campaign calling for the scrapping of SARS.

The National Secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Folarin Olayinka, said the IGP should not be intimidated by the #EndSARS campaign.

Also, a retired Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, has advised the Federal Government against heeding calls by activists to scrap SARS.

Tsav said this in a telephone interview with The PUNCH in Abuja, on Monday.

Tsav said, “Outright scrapping of SARS is not advisable, but the squad needs to be reorganised to check and prevent incidents of high-handedness, indiscipline, thuggery, corruption and human rights violations by overzealous and corruption and corrupt officers.”

In Port Harcourt, the protesters were divided along political parties line.

While thousands of the All Progressives Congress’ supporters on Monday embarked on a pro-SARS rally to drive home their call on the Federal Government not to contemplate scrapping the unit of the Nigeria Police, their Peoples Democratic Party counterparts organ