TheNewsGuru

Tag: SARS

  • Ikechukwu condemns SARS harassment

    Ikechukwu condemns SARS harassment

    Nigerian rapper, Ikechukwu has condemned the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad(FSARS) over the way the force harass Nigerians.

    Ikechukwu shared a heartbreaking video of SARS officials harassing a man because he refused to let them search his phone.

    The versatile entertainer then condemned the operatives for terrorizing citizens, rather than protect and serve them.
    Ikechukwu who also doubles as an actor, took to his Instagram page to slam the agency.

    In his words:”When i say this i really mean it, the day these type of individuals run into me i might end up dying that day.

    Truth is how much humility and calm are u supposed to have? Even if we want to believe that God is using the situation to test us , will he test us to our death and demise?

    For what reason is such an individual wearing the uniform of one who is supposed to protect and serve the same person he is bludgeoning and raping of his rights in broad daylight so bold and so arrogant with slaps to follow and insults. Then more planking .

    My God i beg u please cos i will disarm that fool and shoot him with his own gun. I swear on it. If u powers that be cant do what is necessary then step the fuck outta office and outta the way and allow people who are about change and fairness and rules and regulations and proper protocols and due process take ur place”, he wrote in parts.

    In recent times entertainers like Ruggedman have decried how SARS harass well meaning Nigerians.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BwJodqglre-/

  • Buhari reacts to killing of Kolade Johnson by SARS officials

    President Muhammadu Buhari has regretted the recent unfortunate action of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives from the Lagos State Police Command, which led to the avoidable death of Mr. Kolade Johnson.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President commiserated deeply with the family of the deceased.

    He acknowledged the genuine outrage regarding the activities of SARS and reassured the public that swift actions have already been taken.

    “Suspects are in custody and an orderly room trial is set to commence immediately, following which indicted officers will be prosecuted in court.

    “Government will not tolerate in any way the brutalization of Nigerians or the violation of their rights. Any officer of the law enforcement agencies or any other government functionary caught in this act will certainly be visited with the full weight of the law.”

    Recall that following directives from the Presidency in 2018 to overhaul the management and activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, steps were taken by the Police leadership to restructure and reform SARS.

    The President recognized that a lot more remains to be done and this effort must be sustained.

    He reassured that this administration will continue to ensure that all officers in the Police and other law enforcement agencies conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights and Humanitarian law.

     

  • SARS recovers 31 stolen card readers in Rivers

    SARS recovers 31 stolen card readers in Rivers

    Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Rivers State on Monday recovered 31 Electronic Card Readers (ECRs) believed to have been stolen from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The SRCs were recovered in a bush on Rumuji-Emohua axis of the East-West Road in the Southsouth state. They were allegedly thrown into the bush by thugs who were fleeing to escape arrest.

    The thugs were believed to be working for one of the major political parties.

    After the recovery, SARS notified the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Rivers State, Mr. Obo Effanga, seeking for more information and the cooperation of the commission and its officials to ensure detailed investigation.

    A top official of the SARS in Rivers said the hoodlums, who drove in a brown Toyota Camry saloon car around 9am on Saturday, were given a hot chase by operatives of the squad, making them to escape, after throwing a bag containing the 31 card readers into the bush.

    The SARS chief also revealed that operatives of the police formation continued to search the bush, leading to the later discovery and recovery of the 31 stolen card readers, which was revealed by intelligence as perpetrated by political thugs.

    According to the SARS’ top official, the recovered card readers were still in police custody.

    It was also learnt that the hoodlums’ car left Port Harcourt for communities in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers to perfect their rigging plans, unaware of 11th hour postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Rivers SARS, in a letter to the REC of INEC in the state, with reference number: AR:3000/RVS/SARS/RVS/VOL.8/272, dated February 16 and received/signed yesterday at 8 a.m. by an INEC official, titled: “Investigation Activities. Re: Stolen and recovered INEC Card Readers by ASP Monday Mathias and Team,”was signed by Rivers Commander of SARS, Mr. Akin Fakorede, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

    The letter reads: “The above-named detective and team are serving members of this formation and are investigating a case of suspected stolen/recovered INEC’s card readers.

    “You are kindly requested to assist the team in the course of the investigation. Attached herewith are the serial numbers of the INEC’s card readers for ease of reference. Accept the best assurances of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police (Usman Belel), please.”

    When contacted for his reaction on Monday, the REC of INEC in Rivers, said: “I am still expecting the investigating SARS operatives to come to INEC office in Port Harcourt, for further details.”

  • Police move Melaye from DSS facility to SARS office

    Police move Melaye from DSS facility to SARS office

    The police have moved senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, to the federal special anti-robbery squad office in Guzape district, Abuja.

    The police transferred the senator from their hospital to a Department of State Services health facility on Friday for treatment after he complained that he was not getting better.

    But the police hospital had certified him fit for trial.

    An associate of the embattled senator on Saturday confirmed the development. “They moved him to SARS office in Guzape. The police moved him without any word. We don’t know what they want to do now,” he said.

    He said the next action of the police was unknown.

    Recall that last week, the senator surrendered to the police following an eight-day siege laid to his Abuja residence.

    The police accused Melaye of culpable homicide and alleged that his supporters shot one Danjuma Saliu, a police officer, in Kogi state on July 19.

    Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said they had a warrant to keep Melaye for 14 days.

    “The police investigation team obtained a 14-day remand warrant from the Federal Capital Territory high court on January 9, 2019, to keep Senator Dino Melaye in police custody for investigation into the case of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide against him till January 23, 2019,” Moshood said.

  • I was tortured by I-G’s Intelligence Response Team, SARS — Evans

    Alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans, on Friday narrated how he was allegedly tortured by members of I-G’s Intelligence Response Team and the then Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
    Evans said at the continuation of a trial-within-trial at an Ikeja High Court where he is facing trial alongside six others on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that before Evans’ testimony, a five-minute, 33-second video recording was played in the courtroom.
    The video recording showed Insp. Idowu Haruna, a member of the IG’s Intelligence Response Team, sitting beside Evans cautioning him and taking his statement.
    Mr Olanrewaju Ajanaku, Evans’ lawyer, however, disputed the validity of the recording by claiming it was heavily edited.
    Evans, while being led in evidence by Ajanaku, described himself as a businessman dealing in haulage and ornaments, resident at No. 3, Fred Soyebode St., Magodo, Lagos.
    In a graphic detail, Evans described how he was tortured by police officers after his arrest.
    “Insp. Haruna (member of IG’s Intelligence Response Team) took me to Abuja and brought me back to Lagos, where I was at the I-G’s Guest House at Obalende, Lagos.
    “Sunny, the 2 I/C (second in command) to Abba Kyari, Head of the IRT, Mr Christian Ugu, Mr Phillip and other police officers working with them were there.
    “Haruna brought about 25 sheets of paper and asked me to sign; that day, my mind told me not to sign because it might be my death warrant.
    “Phillip put his hand in his pocket and brought out a brown hospital card; showed it to me and told me to sign it, saying that do you think that we are joking here; he said if anything happens to me here, this card covers everything.
    “Phillip said the police will not be held responsible, and before I knew, Ugu slapped me and that was how they started beating me;” Evans told the court.
    The alleged kidnap kingpin gave more details to the court how the police officers tortured him and made him witness executions in a bid to get him to admit to his crimes.
    He said: “Mr Ugu was smoking, he quenched the cigarette on my hand. My lord, look at my head where they beat me; My Lord, look at my hand.
    “They took me to the backyard of the I-G’s guest house; I sustained injuries on my head and body, and Phillip asked the policemen to walk on me and when I started bleeding, he said you think we are joking here.
    “At the backyard, I saw some people that I was paraded with; they were wearing leg chains. Some of them had bullet wounds on their legs and Phillip ordered Haruna to bring a big brown cellotape, handkerchief and poly bags.
    “Haruna forced a handkerchief into the mouth of one of them; he used the cellotape to tightly tape his mouth and face and put a poly bag over his head and cellotaped it, and used another poly bag and cellotaped it for the second time, and they left the man on the ground.
    “The man on the ground was shaking; he pissed (urinated) on his body, he poo-pooed (defecated) on his body and, after a while, he went quiet.
    “Haruna went to the man and stepped on his body and he was unresponsive and he told me can you see I have travelled him.”
    Evans told the court that four more persons were executed in the same manner by the police officers in his presence.
    “I was brought before them, and I started begging, asking them what do they want me to do, and they told me to cooperate with them, and I said okay that I will do anything they wanted me to do.
    “Phillip asked them to take me to the house, and he asked if I knew the method of killing and I said no; they said that it is called ‘Saddam Hussein’.
    “He said that there is no way an autopsy can predict the cause of death of the five people they had just killed, and that those people have travelled.”
    Evans said after witnessing the execution, the 25 sheets of paper were brought for him to sign by the police.
    He noted he was trembling with fear and Sunny, the second in command to Abba Kyari, the Head of the IGP IRT asked Haruna to offer him a can of cold Fanta.
    “When the Fanta was given to me, I drank it and after a few minutes, they brought the 25 sheets of paper for me and I signed them.
    “Some things were written on some of the sheets of paper while some were blank; that was how I was forced to sign the confessional statements,” Evans said.
    On cross-examination by Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Evans confirmed his name and the names of his parents, and denied knowing the officers before his arrest.
    “I am 38-year-old, I was born on April 29, 1980; my mother’s name is Mrs Chinwe Onwuamadike and my father is Mr Stephen Onwuamadike.
    “I did not know Insp. Haruna, Abba Kyari, before my arrest; I’m the one in the video, I was cautioned in the video, but after the cautionary words, I was forced to sign.
    “The story I told the court was never an afterthought, SARS killed more than 30 people in my presence; the killings took place at the I-G’s guest house in Ikoyi.
    “On the day I was arrested, I was arrested in my house and I was taken to Ikeja SARS Station; journalists were there; they had
    beaten the hell out of me in my house, I was interviewed by the journalists on Sunday, a day after I was arrested on Saturday.
    “When I was taken to the station, there was a field; I was in a car while I was waiting for Abba Kyari to come.
    “Abba Kyari, when he came, told me to beg for forgiveness in my interview with journalists, and also to inform the world I had cancer which I don’t have. The police killed one Felix Chinemeri in my presence,” he said.
    While being re-examined by Ajanaku, his lawyer, Evans said that he had not spoken to journalists before he made his alleged confessional statement to the police.
    Earlier, during proceedings, Insp. Haruna was cross-examined by Ajanaku; he told the court it took more than an hour to obtain Evans’ statement.
    Haruna denied that Evans changed his clothes because of blood stains from torture, before the video of Evans giving his confessional statement was made.
    He denied editing the five-minute and 33-second video of Evans giving his statement to the police.
    “I never threatened to kill the first defendant (Evans), and I never created fear in him by killing people in his presence,” Haruna said.
    NAN reports that Evans is standing trial alongside Uche Amadi, Ogechi Uchechukwu, Chilaka Ifeanyi, Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu and Victor Aduba.
    The six were arraigned on Aug. 30, 2017 on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping of the Chief Executive Officer of Maydon Pharmaceutical Limited, Donatus Dunu, from whose family they allegedly collected 223,000 Euros (N100 million) as ransom.
    Evans and his co-defendants had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
    Justice Hakeem Oshodi adjourned the case until Nov. 23 for continuation of defence in the trial-within-trial.
    NAN

  • SARS arrests 2 private guards in Maiduguri

    Operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have arrested two private security guards over alleged theft of N5 million from the coffers of the Maiduguri Specialist Hospital.

    A competent source told the News Agency of Nigeria that the suspects were nabbed in Maiduguri on Saturday in following a tip off by men of the command.

    The source said that the suspects were already placed on SARS wanted list since May.

    It was gathered that “the suspects gained access to the money through the ceiling in the office of the cashier in the hospital on May 1, where they allegedly broke the safe and stole the amount.

    “They bought a Honda car at the rate of N2.6 million, relocated to Kano and squandered the whole money. They later sold the vehicle when they became broke, then cruised with the proceed and returned to Maiduguri when nothing was left.”

    Dr. Laraba Bello, the Medical Director of the hospital who confirmed the incident, told NAN that the suspects were security men working with a private guards security company in the hospital.

    Bello said “On May 1st, our Central Cashier met his safe broken but the door in his office was locked. They gained access through the ceiling and stole the money in the safe.

    She explained that the incident had exposed many of the staff of the hospital to untold hardships and trauma.

    On alleged non payment of salaries by the private guards company, Bello said “even if they were not paid on time by their employees, that shouldn’t warrant them to steal from the hospital. And we heard they bought a Honda accord which simply shows that they are not hungry,”she said.

    Reacting, Mr. Babatunde Satomey, the Managing Director of HIM Global Nigerian Security Limited, said the suspects were dismissed from the company in April before committing the crime.

    “Both of them were dismissed from the company. One was found misbehaving in the last place of his posting and we dismissed him while the other was not living up to our expectations,” he said.

    Satomey said that security guards in the hospital were owed few months salaries in the past, but that had been settled.

    “It is not true that we did not pay our security men for eight months. Who ever is given you that information, that is not true,” he said.

    On profiling of staff before recruiting them, he said that the company had put in place modalities to ensure that criminals were not employed.

    “There are bad eggs everywhere, but we make sure we don’t employ until you bring two guarantors. No private guards security company will employ anybody without vetting the employee. The police also had to give clearance before we employ anybody.

    “We had meetings with the police, military, NSCDC, DSS and other security outfits in the state. Our fear was not even employing thieves but employing Boko Haram. So we have our ways of checkmating every person in our company,” Satomey said.

    Mr Edet Okon, the Borno Police Public Relations Officer, said the command would unravel additional information about the crime after a briefing by the SARS team on the incident.

     

  • IGP Idris gives new order to SARS

    The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has ordered members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to wear police uniforms with full identification, pending the launch of new FSARS uniform.

    The force Spokesman, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Friday said that Idris gave the order at a meeting with critical stakeholders.

    NAN reports that Moshood said Idris was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of police in Charge of Operations, Mr Habila Joshak.
    He said that the meeting was convened to brief the stakeholders on the progress made so far in the overhaul of the SARS now known as Federal SARS.

    The Police boss said that the overhaul of SARS was beyond rhetoric as strategic reforms were being implemented.

    He said that the FSARS operatives had been ordered to desist from attending to civil or commercial matters henceforth and focus strictly on armed robbery and kidnapping cases only.

    According to Moshood, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Mr Habiru Gwandu, informed the meeting that a human rights desk had been created in the 36 states of the federation and FCT.

    He said that the desks would address cases of infractions against members of the public by FSARS personnel across the nation.

    Gwandu added that the Police had engaged the services of psychologists and counsellors in the ongoing screening of FSARS operatives.

    On his part, the DCP in charge of the I-G’s X-Squad, Amaechi Elumelu, said in the statement that the screening and mobilization of FSARS Operatives would not be business as usual again.

    He said that FSARS operatives would undergo rigorous orientation including human rights training among other screening processes.

    Elumelu said that the I-G would soon unveil the Custody Records Management System.

    He explained that this system would contain the records of arrests, detentions and welfare details of suspects.

    The commissioner said that this system would discourage arbitrary arrest of people and ensure that suspects were charged to court within 24 hours, in compliance with the law.

  • Residents protest, burn down police station after SARS official allegedly kill undergraduate

    There was pandemonium on Thursday in Iwo town, Osun State as angry residents burn down a police station over the killing of an undergraduate allegedly by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, (SARS).

    According to a report by Premium Times, the victim, identified as Tunde Nafiu, was shot while he was trying to board a commercial motorcycle to Ile-Ogbo, a neighbouring community, at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday.

    The victim was said to be a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Iree in Osun State.

    Consequent upon the shooting, residents gathered on Friday in protest, leading to the burning of the police station in the town.

    A witness said a stray bullet hit Nafiu when the SARS officers were shooting into the air.

    “At about 9:30 pm yesterday, there was a carnival along Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo,” said a witness who asked not to be named. “At that time, the SARS guys were trying to parade and they were obstructed as a result of the on-going carnival. Afterwards, the officers were able to pass but they saw people gyrating. That prompted the shooting from the security operatives.”

    Another resident, Iyanu Ajao, told this newspaper that the death of the young man led youth in the town to mobilise for a protest, today, against the unlawful killing, which then resulted in the razing of the police station.

    According to Dauda Ahmed, who also witnessed the protest, the incident was not the first as the police officers are reportedly fond of threatening residents by shooting.

    “This is not the first time. We need to show them that they can’t just behave anyhow. All these have to stop,” he said.

    The Press Secretary to the monarch of Iwo land, Ibrahim Ali, also confirmed the incident but could not give a detailed report on the killing.

    “We are discussing the issue with the king now,” he said. “I’ll get back to you later.”

    However, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Folashade Odoro, refused to comment on the issue. She said she was in the middle of a programme when contacted.

    There are reports that the police officer who fired the shot has been detained.

    The killing happened a week after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ordered the Inspector General of Police to ensure the reformation of SARS in the police structure.

  • Breaking: IGP acts on #EndSARS directives, orders overhaul of SARS nationwide [Full statement]

    Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris in compliance with the Presidential directives has ordered the immediate overhauling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

    TheNewsGuru reports the Police IG said this is to address complaints and allegations on human rights violations against some of the personnel of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from members of the public in some parts of the Country.

    According to Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, “In the new arrangement, a new Commissioner of Police has been appointed as the overall head of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide.

    Read full statement:

    RE- PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON IMMEDIATE OVERHAUL OF SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD (SARS)

    The Inspector General of Police in compliance with the Presidential directives has ordered the immediate overhauling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to address complaints and allegations on human rights violations against some of the personnel of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from members of the public in some parts of the Country.

    2. In the new arrangement, a new Commissioner of Police has been appointed as the overall head of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide.

    3. The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad previously under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID) is henceforth to operate under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja. The Commissioner of Police (FSARS) is answerable to the Inspector General of Police through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations.

    4. In observance of full compliance with the Presidential directives, the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad will be intelligence driven and will be restricted to the prevention and detection of Armed Robbery, kidnapping and the apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences only.

    5. New FSARS Commanders are being appointed for the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) across the country that will now exist and operate in the State and Zonal Commands under the Commissioner of Police (F-SARS) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. A Federal SARS Commander of a Rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) but not below Superintendent of Police (SP) will be in charge of FSARS in State and Zonal Commands across the Country.

    6. 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 and Monitoring Unit have been mandated to go round the Commands and Police Formations nationwide to ensure strict compliance with the Presidential directives and apprehend any erring police officer.

    7. A new Standard Operational Guidelines and Procedures, and code of conduct for all FSARS personnel to ensure that the operations of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad is in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regards to international human rights law and constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects will be enforced in totality by the Commissioner of Police, FSARS. Other measures to be implemented by the Force in observance of full compliance with the presidential directives are as follows:

    i. Human Rights Desk Officers for FSARS in every State to take complaints from the public and forward same to Force Headquarters, the officer will be answerable to the Commissioner of Police, FSARS at the Force Headquarters and not Commander FSARS in the States.

    ii. Medical/Psychological evaluation of all FSARS personnel will be carried out immediately.

    iii. Redesigning of new uniform with identity name tag for all FSARS personnel throughout the Country will be done immediately.

    iv. Henceforth, FSARS personnel will not perform Stop and Search duties except on distress call to respond to armed robbery and kidnapping offences only.

    8. The Force will be transparent, cooperate, and work cordially with the National Human Right Commission on the special panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of FSARS to address grievances from the public against the personnel of FSARS in compliance with the presidential directives.

    9. Furthermore, a new training program to be organized by the Force in collaboration with some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local and International NGOs, and other Human Rights Organizations on core Police Duties, Observant of Human Rights and Handling, Care and Custody of Suspects have been directed by the Inspector General of Police for all Federal SARS personnel nationwide with immediate effect.

    10. A committee of Senior Police officers, Technical Consultants, Human Rights/Civil Society organizations (CSOs) has been setup to review the activities of FSARS under the new arrangement. They are to pay unscheduled visits to FSARS formations across the country with particular attention to States with high complaints index, to assess facilities and situations in these States and submit report to the Inspector General of Police on regular basis.

    11. However, aggrieved members of the public who have any complaint in the past or present of violation of their rights by any Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) personnel anywhere in the country are to report through any of the following channels for investigation and redress.

    i. DIG, Department of Operations: 08037025670

    ii. IGP X-SQUAD

    0902 690 0729, 08078662130, 08174041000 – CALLS

    0903 227 8905 – SMS

    0903 562 1377 – whatsapp

    Email: integrityxsquad@gmail.com

    iii. IGP Monitoring Unit: igpmonotoringabj@yahoo.com, 08036242591

    iv. Commissioner of Police, FSARS: 08033476852

    v. 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

    vi. PUBLIC COMPLAINT RAPID RESPONSE UNIT (PCRRU)

    08057000001 – Calls Only

    08057000002 – Calls Only

    08057000003 – SMS & whatsapp only

    Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU

    www.facebook.com/PolicePCRRU

    NGOs/CSOs

    vii. sega@aliensmedialtd.com, 08027757359

    viii. koredebello@caspertainment.agency, casperentertainment@gmail.com, 09051133035

    ix. oluogunsakin@hotmail.com

    x. g.writer2011@gmail.com, 07037887630

    Ag. DCP JIMOH MOSHOOD

    FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

    FORCE HEADQUARTERS

    ABUJA

  • BREAKING: IG overhauls SARS, appoints new Police Commissioner as head

    Sequel to the order given by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for the overhaul of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim idris, has ordered its immediate overhauling to address complaints and allegations of human rights violations against some of its personnel.

    The Ag. President gave the order on Tuesday and the Police IG complied immediately.

    A release signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, and made available via the verified Facebook wall of the NPF states:

    1 The Inspector General of Police in compliance with the Presidential directives has ordered the immediate overhauling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to address complaints and allegations on human rights violations against some of the personnel of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from members of the public in some parts of the Country.

    2. In the new arrangement, a new Commissioner of Police has been appointed as the overall head of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide.

    3. The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad previously under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID) is henceforth to operate under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja. The Commissioner of Police (FSARS) is answerable to the Inspector General of Police through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations.

    4. In observance of full compliance with the Presidential directives, the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad will be intelligence driven and will be restricted to the prevention and detection of Armed Robbery, kidnapping and the apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences only.

    5. New FSARS Commanders are being appointed for the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) across the country that will now exist and operate in the State and Zonal Commands under the Commissioner of Police (F-SARS) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. A Federal SARS Commander of a Rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) but not below Superintendent of Police (SP) will be in charge of FSARS in State and Zonal Commands across the Country.

    6. 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 and Monitoring Unit have been mandated to go round the Commands and Police Formations nationwide to ensure strict compliance with the Presidential directives and apprehend any erring police officer.

    7. A new Standard Operational Guidelines and Procedures, and code of conduct for all FSARS personnel to ensure that the operations of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad is in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regards to international human rights law and constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects will be enforced in totality by the Commissioner of Police, FSARS. Other measures to be implemented by the Force in observance of full compliance with the presidential directives are as follows:

    i. Human Rights Desk Officers for FSARS in every State to take complaints from the public and forward same to Force Headquarters, the officer will be answerable to the Commissioner of Police, FSARS at the Force Headquarters and not Commander FSARS in the States.

    ii. Medical/Psychological evaluation of all FSARS personnel will be carried out immediately.

    iii. Redesigning of new uniform with identity name tag for all FSARS personnel throughout the Country will be done immediately.

    iv. Henceforth, FSARS personnel will not perform Stop and Search duties except on distress call to respond to armed robbery and kidnapping offences only.

    8. The Force will be transparent, cooperate, and work cordially with the National Human Right Commission on the special panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of FSARS to address grievances from the public against the personnel of FSARS in compliance with the presidential directives.

    9. Furthermore, a new training program to be organized by the Force in collaboration with some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local and International NGOs, and other Human Rights Organizations on core Police Duties, Observant of Human Rights and Handling, Care and Custody of Suspects have been directed by the Inspector General of Police for all Federal SARS personnel nationwide with immediate effect.

    10. A committee of Senior Police officers, Technical Consultants, Human Rights/Civil Society organizations (CSOs) has been setup to review the activities of FSARS under the new arrangement. They are to pay unscheduled visits to FSARS formations across the country with particular attention to States with high complaints index, to assess facilities and situations in these States and submit report to the Inspector General of Police on regular basis.

    11. However, aggrieved members of the public who have any complaint in the past or present of violation of their rights by any Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) personnel anywhere in the country are to report through any of the following channels for investigation and redress.

    i. DIG, Department of Operations: 08037025670

    ii. IGP X-SQUAD

    0902 690 0729, 08078662130, 08174041000 – CALLS

    0903 227 8905 – SMS

    0903 562 1377 – whatsapp

    Email: integrityxsquad@gmail.com

    iii. IGP Monitoring Unit: igpmonotoringabj@yahoo.com, 08036242591

    iv. Commissioner of Police, FSARS: 08033476852

    v. 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

    vi. PUBLIC COMPLAINT RAPID RESPONSE UNIT (PCRRU)

    08057000001 – Calls Only

    08057000002 – Calls Only

    08057000003 – SMS & whatsapp only

    Twitter: @PoliceNG_PCRRU

    www.facebook.com/PolicePCRRU

    NGOs/CSOs

    vii. sega@aliensmedialtd.com, 08027757359

    viii. koredebello@caspertainment.agency, casperentertainment@gmail.com, 09051133035

    ix. oluogunsakin@hotmail.com

    x. g.writer2011@gmail.com, 07037887630