Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has directed Ibrahim Idris,
inspector-general of police (IGP), to overhaul the special anti-robbery
squad (SARS).
Laolu Akande, spokesman of the acting president, disclosed this in a
statement.
The statement said the vice-president asked the IGP to ensure that SARS
operatives act in adherence to the rule of law.
“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,” the statement read.
“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
Humanitarian LAw and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects.
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 Committee that will conduct nation-wide
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.”
There has been a campaign against the police outfit accused of
illegalities such as extortion, intimidation and arbitrary arrest.
The #endSARS campaign has been on social media for close to a year.