.jpg)
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has ordered the immediate reorganisation of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the force.
He did on Monday in apparent response to public outcry by Nigerians against police brutality and other excesses of officers and men of the SARS.
SARS, handpicked specifically to fight armed robbery and other serious crimes, had come under intense public attacks lately, reaching to a head with a media campaign for the scrapping of the unit, tagged #ENDSARS.
The police, through the spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, had initially dismissed the public outcry, saying the outfit was doing well and attributed the misgivings as coming mostly from criminals.
But another statement signed by the same Moshood, conveyed the volte-face, saying the IGP not only directed immediate reorganisation of the SARS across the nation, but thorough investigations into all allegations and complaints raised.
The statement read: “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris concerned with public interest and the need to re-position 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 leveled against the personnel of the Special Anti Robbery Squad across the country by the IGP X-Squad of the Force.”
In the new arrangement, the statement said further,a Commissioner of Police is now the overall head of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja.
Idris
Moshood further wrote: “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 criminality 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.”
Idris, however, emphasised that the SARS have been doing very well in fighting violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnappings and cattle rustling in the country in the recent time resulting in reduction of incidents of the mentioned violent crimes nationwide.
Aggrieved members of the public who have any complaint in the past or present of violation of their rights by any SARS personnel anywhere in the country are to report through any of the following channels for investigation and further actions.
.IGP X-SQUAD
.0902 690 0729 – CALLS
.0903 227 8905 – SMS
.0903 562 1377 – whatsapp
.Email: integrityxsquad@gmail.com
.FORCE PUBLIC COMPLAINT BUREAU
.07056792065 Calls/SMS/whatsapp
.08088450152 Calls/SMS/whatsapp
.Email: bailisfree@gmail.com, pressforabuja@gmail.com
.Twitter: @PoliceNG
.www.facebook.com/ngpolice
.PUBLIC COMPLAINT RAPID RESPONSE UNIT (PCRRU)
.08057000001 – Calls Only
.08057000002 – Calls Only
.08057000003 – SMS & whatsapp only
.Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU
.www.facebook.com/PolicePCRRU