The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the
immediate overhauling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to
address complaints and allegations on human rights violations against
some of the personnel of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from
members of the public.
This came hours after the directive by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
A statement by Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said in the new
arrangement, a new Commissioner of Police had been appointed as the
overall head of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide.
The statement reads: “The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad
previously under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations
Department (FCIID) is henceforth to operate under the Department of
Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja. The Commissioner of Police (FSARS)
is answerable to the Inspector General of Police through the Deputy
Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations.
“In observance of full compliance with the Presidential directives,
the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad 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.
“New FSARS Commanders are being appointed for the Federal
Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) across the country that will now exist and
operate in the State and Zonal Commands under the Commissioner of Police
(F-SARS) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. A Federal SARS Commander of a
Rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) but not below
Superintendent of Police (SP) will be in charge of FSARS in State and
Zonal Commands across the Country.
“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. 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 FSARS personnel to ensure that the operations of the
Federal Special Anti-Robbery 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. Other measures to be
implemented by the Force in observance of full compliance with the
presidential directives are as follows:
“Human Rights Desk Officers 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.
“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 National Human Right Commission 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.
“Furthermore, a new training program to be organized by the Force in
collaboration with some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local and
International NGOs, and other Human Rights Organizations on core Police
Duties, Observant of Human Rights and Handling, Care and Custody of
Suspects have been directed by the Inspector General of Police for all
Federal SARS personnel nationwide with immediate effect.
“A committee of Senior Police officers, Technical Consultants, Human
Rights/Civil Society organizations (CSOs) has been setup to review the
activities of FSARS under the new arrangement. They are to pay
unscheduled visits to FSARS formations across the country with
particular attention to States with high complaints index, to assess
facilities and situations in these States and submit report to the
Inspector General of Police on regular basis.
“However, aggrieved members of the public who have any complaint in
the past or present of violation of their rights by any Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) personnel anywhere in the country are to
report through any of the following channels for investigation and
redress.
“I DIG, Department of Operations: 08037025670
ii. IGP X-SQUAD
0902 690 0729, 08078662130, 08174041000 – CALLS
0903 227 8905 – SMS
0903 562 1377 – whatsapp
Email: integrityxsquad@gmail.com
iii. IGP Monitoring Unit: igpmonotoringabj@yahoo.com, 08036242591
iv. Commissioner of Police, FSARS: 08033476852
v. FORCE PUBLIC COMPLAINT BUREAU
07056792065 Calls/SMS/whatsapp
08088450152 Calls/SMS/whatsapp
Email: bailisfree@gmail.com, pressforabuja@gmail.com
Twitter: @PoliceNG
www.facebook.com/ngpolice
vi. PUBLIC COMPLAINT RAPID RESPONSE UNIT (PCRRU)
08057000001 – Calls Only
08057000002 – Calls Only
08057000003 – SMS & whatsapp only
Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU
www.facebook.com/PolicePCRRU
NGOs/CSOs
vii. sega@aliensmedialtd.com, 08027757359
viii. koredebello@caspertainment.agency, casperentertainment@gmail.com, 09051133035
ix. oluogunsakin@hotmail.com
x. g.writer2011@gmail.com, 07037887630”.