Osinbajo orders the immediate overhaul of SARS, IGP reshuffles and renames unit F-SARS
Wed Aug 15, 2018 09:38:am National
5.2K By Obiaks Blog
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to immediate overhaul the Special Anti-robbery Squad, known as Sars, following allegations of human rights violations and abuses.
The unit which became infamously notorious for allegations of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and extortion, drew public condemnation and calls for it to be disbanded, springing forth the hashtag #EndSars which has been trending in the country for months.
Osibanjo, currently holding stead for President Buhari who is on a 10-day vacation, announced the directive in a signed statement through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, on Tuesday.
The statement said the IGP had been instructed to ensure that any unit that emerges from the overhaul is intelligence-driven, restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery, kidnapping, apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more."
It also instructed that all operatives in the emerging unit must "conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and 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," he added.
The National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria was also ordered to set up a special panel tasked with investigating alleged unlawful activities of the anti-robbery police unit.
The committee, he said, would grant the public the opportunity to present their complaints and seek redress.
Following the directive, the Special Ani-Roberry Squad (SARS) has been renamed Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), with a new commissioner of police appointed to head the unit.
Public Relations Officer of the Force, Jimoh Moshood, announced the changes in a statement on Tuesday, hours after Acting President Yemi Osinbajo ordered the immediate overhaul of SARS.
The IGP also altered FSARS' mode of operation, moving the unit - which had been under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID) - to the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja.
Jimoh Moshood said steps have been put in place to check the operations of FSARS to ensure strict compliance with the Presidential directives.
"All Commissioners of Police have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to comply with this directive with immediate effect and warn their personnel not to pose as SARS operatives," he said.
"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."
The unit which became infamously notorious for allegations of extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture and extortion, drew public condemnation and calls for it to be disbanded, springing forth the hashtag #EndSars which has been trending in the country for months.
Osibanjo, currently holding stead for President Buhari who is on a 10-day vacation, announced the directive in a signed statement through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, on Tuesday.
The statement said the IGP had been instructed to ensure that any unit that emerges from the overhaul is intelligence-driven, restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery, kidnapping, apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more."
It also instructed that all operatives in the emerging unit must "conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and 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," he added.
The National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria was also ordered to set up a special panel tasked with investigating alleged unlawful activities of the anti-robbery police unit.
The committee, he said, would grant the public the opportunity to present their complaints and seek redress.
Following the directive, the Special Ani-Roberry Squad (SARS) has been renamed Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), with a new commissioner of police appointed to head the unit.
Public Relations Officer of the Force, Jimoh Moshood, announced the changes in a statement on Tuesday, hours after Acting President Yemi Osinbajo ordered the immediate overhaul of SARS.
The IGP also altered FSARS' mode of operation, moving the unit - which had been under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID) - to the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja.
Jimoh Moshood said steps have been put in place to check the operations of FSARS to ensure strict compliance with the Presidential directives.
"All Commissioners of Police have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to comply with this directive with immediate effect and warn their personnel not to pose as SARS operatives," he said.
"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."
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