Osinbajo to IGP: Overhaul SARS now, investigate rights violations

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris to immediately overhaul the management and activities of Special Anti – Robbery Squad (SARS).

Osinbajo ordered that any unit that would emerge from the process must be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery, kidnapping and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences.

The acting president’s directive followed persistent complaints and reports from concerned Nigerians on the activities of SARS that border on allegations of human rights violations.

Also, Osinbajo further directed the police boss 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 Senior Special Assistant to Osinbajo on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, stated this in a statement made available on Tuesday.

Akande also quoted the acting president as saying that the operatives should also bear proper identification tags anytime they
are on duty.

Meanwhile, the acting president has directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to set up a special panel that would 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.

In swift compliance with the Acting Presidency’s directive, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has announced a new outfit known as the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) to replace the complaints ridden Special Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS).

He said that (FSARS) is headed by a commissioner of police who is answerable to the IGP through the deputy inspector general of police, department of operations. According to him, a medical/psychological evaluation of all FSARS personnel will be carried out immediately.

A statement signed by the force spokesman acting DCP Jimoh Moshood stated that 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 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”.

He said the headquarters is 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 in some parts of the country.

According to him, in full compliance with the presidential directive, 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.

He said, “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 but not below superintendent of police 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.”

Moreover, he said that 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 steps to be implemented includes the creation of Human Rights Desk Officers for FSARS in every state to take complaints from the public and forward same to the force headquarters, the officer will be answerable to the commissioner of police, FSARS at the force headquarters and not commander FSARS in the states.

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 IGP on regular basis.