SARS Officers
Nigeria: Acting President Osinbajo, orders immediate rejig of SARS
Following torrents of criticisms against their operations in Nigeria, the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has directed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to immediately overhaul the management and activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Directive for immediate rejig of the police arm would be received with joy by Nigerian residents, a good number of whom have had issues with the SARS men.
There have been campaigns on the social media with hashtag #EndSARS as a protest against complaints bordering on allegations of human rights violations by SARS Officers.
Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, announced the directive in a statement signed on Tuesday.
According to the statement, Osinbajo instructed the IGP to ensure that any unit that emerges from the overhaul is intelligence-driven, restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery, kidnapping, apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.
READ MORE: #EndSARS: Nigerian Celebrities Join Campaign To End Police Brutality
The Acting President 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 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,” he added.
Also, Osinbajo ordered the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Special Panel that will conduct an investigation into the alleged unlawful activities of SARS.
He said the panel would afford members of the public the opportunity to present their grievances and get justice.
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