Yemi Osinbajo
The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday directed the
Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to immediately begin
the overhaul of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Osinbajo also directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
to set up a panel to probe allegations of rights abuse by the police
unit.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and
Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed these in a statement made available
to journalists.
Akande said Osinbajo’s directive was based on persistent complaints being made my members of the public against the SARS.
He said Osinbajo also directed the police boss to ensure that any
unit that will emerge from the overhaul is intelligence-driven and
restricted to the prevention and detection of crimes.
The statement read, “Following persistent complaints and
reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad that border
on allegations of human rights violations, Acting President Yemi
Osinbajo, SAN, has directed the Inspector General of Police to, with
immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and
ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process, will be
intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of
armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to
the stated offences, and nothing more.
“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.
“In the meantime, the Acting President has directed the
National Human Rights Commission 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 general public the opportunity to present
their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.”
