IGP bans FSARS from stop-and-search patrol

– Atiku, Saraki, others knock SARS, demand urgent reform

Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force has come under heavy attack again as many Nigerians including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki have called for an immediate reform of the unit or scrap it.

This followed a reported shooting of a young man in Ughelli, Delta state, whose video went viral on Saturday. The victim suspected to be a Yahoo boy was said to have been left on the road to die after his vehicle was taken away.

This came as the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has banned operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force from routine patrols nationwide.

Celebrities such as Femi Kuti and Kate Henshaw as well as ordinary Nigerians twitting under #EndSARS also condemned other extrajudicial killings by the group.

Atiku said SARS had lost focus and continued to terrorise the people they were meant to protect.

In a series of tweets, the ex-VP said, “The Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit of the @PoliceNG was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and other related crimes.

“However, the unit has today morphed into an oppressor of the Nigerian masses who strive every day for a better life.

“Reports of intimidation, harassment and outright extortion by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad have continued unabated.

“I strongly condemn their cruel actions against our people, and I urge the government to rise to the occasion and nip this monstrosity in the bud with the seriousness it deserves.

“It is expedient that the activities of SARS are reviewed to ensure that the rogue elements are excised from the unit and sanity returned to its operations.”

Also commenting on the issue, Saraki tweeted, “The reports of the continued harassment, illegal arrest, detention and high handedness by rogue cells of the SARS Unit of @PoliceNG against innocent Nigerians – most of them young people – in spite of efforts to reform the Police & raise standards of policing, are disheartening.

“A situation where the officers of @PoliceNG become a threat to the lives and property of the very citizens they swore to protect is condemnable and unacceptable.

“I call on the Federal Government to immediately put a stop to these reprehensible activities and restructure the unit to better perform its lawful duties of safe guarding the lives and property of the Nigerian people.

A popular musician, Femi Kuti, said, “How many more innocent people must SARS/the police kill before urgent steps are taken to completely overhaul and reform the entire police force? Obviously government and their families are safe must be why they are nonchalant and indifferent.”

Renowned actress Kate Henshaw, stated, “Until SARS kills one of their own…..then and only then will they care…”

Meanwhile, in a statement announcing the IGP ban on patrol by (F)SARS and other related groups, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, said on Sunday that no personnel of the Force was authorised to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti.

He stated, “They must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear. The IGP’s directives come against the backdrop of findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads hide under this guise to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads.

“Specifically, the IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.

“They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.

“The IGP notes that the FSARS and other Police Tactical Squads remain a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country.

“He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads.

“He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers.”