Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to immediately carry out reorganisation of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The directive followed persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the police special unit, which borders on allegations of human rights violations.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity to the Acting President, Laolu Akande, in a statement yesterday, said Osinbajo directed the IGP to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS.
Akande stated that the IGP is mandated to ensure that any unit that will emerge from the overhauling will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences and nothing more.
He said: “The acting president has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to international human rights law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects.
“The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty,” Akande noted.
The presidential spokesman explained that in the meantime, the acting president has directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to set up a Special Panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.
Meanwhile, the IGP has pledged to fully comply with the presidential directive.
Accordingly, the elite squad, which was hitherto under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigative Department (FCIID), Force Headquarters, will henceforth be coordinated and supervised by the Operations Department.
Also, a new Commissioner of Police (CP) has been appointed for the anti-robbery squad, which has come under severe criticisms over its modus operandi.
Besides, zonal and state command SARS, will henceforth be headed by officers not below the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).
Across the country, reports of alleged extra-judicial killings, brutality, extortion, harassment and other human rights abuses had been made against SARS.
Not much had been done by the authorities to redress the complaints.
However, the Police yesterday promised to unveil a reformed F-SARS, which will keep to its bounds – detect, fight armed robbery and kidnappings.
Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, who conveyed this in a statement, said: “The IGP, in compliance with the presidential directives, has ordered the immediate overhauling of SARS to address complaints and allegations on human rights violations against some of the personnel of SARS from members of the public in some parts of the country.
Also, a new Commissioner of Police (CP) has been appointed for the anti-robbery squad, which has come under severe criticisms over its modus operandi.
Besides, zonal and state command SARS, will henceforth be headed by officers not below the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).
Across the country, reports of alleged extra-judicial killings, brutality, extortion, harassment and other human rights abuses had been made against SARS.
Not much had been done by the authorities to redress the complaints.
However, the Police yesterday promised to unveil a reformed F-SARS, which will keep to its bounds – detect, fight armed robbery and kidnappings.
Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, who conveyed this in a statement, said: “The IGP, in compliance with the presidential directives, has ordered the immediate overhauling of SARS to address complaints and allegations on human rights violations against some of the personnel of SARS from members of the public in some parts of the country.
“In the new arrangement, a new commissioner of Police has been appointed as the overall head of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide.
“The F-SARS, previously under the FCIID, is henceforth to operate under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja. The commissioner of Police (FSARS) is answerable to the IGP through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations.
“In observance of full compliance with the presidential directives, the F-SARS will be intelligence-driven and will be restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery, kidnapping and the apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences only.”
He added: “All commissioners of Police have been directed by the IGP to comply with this directive with immediate effect and warn their personnel not to pose as SARS operatives. The IGP X-Squad and Monitoring Unit have been mandated to go round the commands and police formations nationwide to ensure strict compliance with the presidential directives and apprehend any erring police officer.
“A new Standard Operational Guidelines and Procedures, and code of conduct for all F-SARS personnel to ensure that the operations of the squad is in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regards to international human rights law and constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects will be enforced in totality by the Commissioner of Police, FSARS.”
In furtherance to the directive, the police said human rights desk officers will be appointed “for FSARS in every state to take complaints from the public and forward same to Force Headquarters. The officer will be answerable to the Commissioner of Police, FSARS at the Force Headquarters and not Commander, FSARS in the states.”
“Again, medical/psychological evaluation of all FSARS personnel will be carried out immediately. Redesigning of new uniform with identity name tag for all FSARS personnel throughout the country will be done immediately.
“Henceforth, FSARS personnel will not perform stop and search duties, except on distress call to respond to armed robbery and kidnapping offences only.
“The Force will be transparent, cooperate and work cordially with the NHRC on the special panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of FSARS to address grievances from the public against the personnel of FSARS in compliance with the presidential directives.”
“The F-SARS, previously under the FCIID, is henceforth to operate under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja. The commissioner of Police (FSARS) is answerable to the IGP through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations.
“In observance of full compliance with the presidential directives, the F-SARS will be intelligence-driven and will be restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery, kidnapping and the apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences only.”
He added: “All commissioners of Police have been directed by the IGP to comply with this directive with immediate effect and warn their personnel not to pose as SARS operatives. The IGP X-Squad and Monitoring Unit have been mandated to go round the commands and police formations nationwide to ensure strict compliance with the presidential directives and apprehend any erring police officer.
“A new Standard Operational Guidelines and Procedures, and code of conduct for all F-SARS personnel to ensure that the operations of the squad is in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regards to international human rights law and constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects will be enforced in totality by the Commissioner of Police, FSARS.”
In furtherance to the directive, the police said human rights desk officers will be appointed “for FSARS in every state to take complaints from the public and forward same to Force Headquarters. The officer will be answerable to the Commissioner of Police, FSARS at the Force Headquarters and not Commander, FSARS in the states.”
“Again, medical/psychological evaluation of all FSARS personnel will be carried out immediately. Redesigning of new uniform with identity name tag for all FSARS personnel throughout the country will be done immediately.
“Henceforth, FSARS personnel will not perform stop and search duties, except on distress call to respond to armed robbery and kidnapping offences only.
“The Force will be transparent, cooperate and work cordially with the NHRC on the special panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of FSARS to address grievances from the public against the personnel of FSARS in compliance with the presidential directives.”
Osinbajo orders IGP to reorganise SARS, restricted to robbery, kidnapping operation
Reviewed by ABIODUN SODIQ
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August 15, 2018
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Reviewed by ABIODUN SODIQ
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August 15, 2018
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