Nigeria Police bows to public outcry, orders re-organisation of Anti-Robbery squad
By Adetokunbo Fakeye
Abuja Nigeria. Dec. 4, 2017 (AltAfrika)-Worried by overwhelming public outcry,the Nigeria Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris has ordered the immediate re-organisation of special anti-robbery squad (SARS).
The IGP’s directive came on the heels of calls for the proscription of SARS whose operatives have been accused of maltreating innocent Nigerians.
Nigerians had over the weekend , through social medial platform (Twitter ) called on Police authorities to scrap the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, popularly known by the acronym SARS.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officers, CSP Jimoh Moshood, IGP also ordered instant investigation into all the allegations, complaints and infractions levelled against the personnel of the Special Anti Robbery Squad across the country by the IGP X-Squad of the Force.
The statement said further that, in the new arrangement, a Commissioner of Police is now the overall head of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja.
The statement:
“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris concerned with public interest and the need to reposition the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for more efficiency and effective service delivery to all has directed the immediate re-organisation of the SARS nationwide and instant investigation into all the allegations, complaints and infractions levelled against the personnel of the Special Anti Robbery Squad across the country by the IGP X-Squad of the Force.
“The Police Zonal Commands, State Commands and Divisions will continue to operate anti-crime units/sections, crime prevention and control squads and teams imperative to prevent and detect crimes and criminalities in their Area of Responsibilities, and other crack squads necessary to sustain law and order and protection of life and properties in their Area of responsibilities (AOR).
“Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) will now exist and operate in the State and Zonal Commands under the Commissioner of Police (F-SARS) at the Force Headquarters.
“A Federal SARS Commander of a Rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and 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 has been mandated to go round the Commands and Police Formations nationwide to ensure strict compliance and apprehend any erring police officer”.
Meanwhile the police have launched a massive campaign in the social media, calling on Nigerians to contact the Force if they have any complaint against operatives of SARS.
In several tweets posted today, the police said: Re: #EndSARS If u’ve contact with SARS personnel and u’ve any complaints about deir actions or inactions, u’re at liberty 2 report deir conducts 2 various platforms provided by d NPF to deal with unprofessional conduct of members of d Force rather dan call 4 end SARS. 08057000001.
“SARS unit of @PoliceNG, for about 40 yrs of its creation has tremendously recorded n achieved landmark successes in arresting dare devil Armed Robbers kidnappers n other violent Criminals as well as reducing 2d barest minimum crimes and criminality in the country,” another tweet stated.
“The Police Zonal Commands, State Commands and Divisions will continue to operate anti-crime units/sections, crime prevention and control squads and teams imperative to prevent and detect crimes and criminalities in their Area of Responsibilities, and other crack squads necessary to sustain law and order and protection of life and properties in their Area of responsibilities (AOR),” he said.
