Disturbed by allegations of human rights violations leveled against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), an arm of the Nigeria Police Force, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo Tuesday ordered immediate overhaul of the anti -robbery squad.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande said in a statement that the Acting President has also directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Special Panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS.
He said the investigation will afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances bordering on allegations of human rights violations, with a view to ensuring redress.
The order may not be unconnected with several calls by well meaning Nigerians on the Federal government to scrap the ant-robbery team following claims that their activities had aided rather than reduce crimes in the country.
Recall that the Lagos state command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), had following similar allegations of human rights abuses, constituted a high powered panel of top officers to investigate the allegations culminating in the dismissed of five out of 92 policemen tried for various offences in the first half of the year 2018, on the 10th of June.
He directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ahmed Idris “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”
“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.”
He 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.
According to the statement, “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.”
