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Nigeria's Acting President orders police chief to overhaul notorious anti-robbery squad
The Acting President also said all uniform operatives should bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the country's Acting President ordered the overhauling of the security operatives following persistent public complaints.
Before now, Nigerians across social media have called for an end of the security operatives through #EndSARS campaign and organised various rallies and protest against the police unit.
Some of the reasons for the call include the non-identification of the SARS operatives, mode of dressings and lack of respect for law and human rights by the operatives during raids.
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In a statement released on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, Laolu Akande, media aide to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, stated that all uniform operatives should bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.
"Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Acting-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has directed the Inspector General of Police 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, and nothing more."
What the Police chief should do
- Ensure that all operatives in the merging Unity conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and due regards to international Humanitarian law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects.
- The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.
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The Acting President also directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Committee that will conduct a nationwide 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.
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