After months of persistent public outcry over the illegal activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday ordered the Inspector-General of the Police to immediately reorganize the unit.
A statement by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the Acting President, 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.”
Since the allegations border on human rights violations, the special panel is expected to offer “members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.”
The IGP’s overhaul of the management and activities of SARS, Prof Osinbajo further directed, should “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.
“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.”