Police IG Adamu Mohammed bans Killer Squad - SARS and Tactical Squad from Nigerian roads

Police IG Adamu Mohammed bans Killer Squad - SARS and Tactical Squad from Nigerian roads

 5 October, 2020

Nigerians are calling on the President to intervene in high handedness and unnecessary killing of upcoming Nigerians by Federal Special Anti-Robery Squad (FSARS) especially in the Eastern and Western parts of the country.  The FSARS activities has gone tyrannical and heartless. Their activities has led to many unpalatable experiences by many citizens including parents that have loss their children to gruesome killings by the FSARS, maiming and unimaginable extortions. 

It's against this backdrop that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu NPM mni has banned the personnel of the FSARS and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties like – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect because of many unprofessional and unpatriotic allegations by Nigerians especially on Social Media like Twitter with #EndSARS, #ENDSARSNOW hashtags and Instagram messages .

Additionally, the IGP warned that no personnel of the Force is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti like they usually do. It was one of the reasons that led to lost of lives of some police officers during a shoot out between Nigerian Army and some policemen in mufti in Taraba sometime last year. The IGP starnly warned that they must always appear in either their police uniforms or approved tactical gear to avoid being sanctioned. The IGP’s directives come against the backdrop of outcry from Nigerians and findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads hide under these guise to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads.

Unequivocally, the IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices with their attendants extortion of huge amounts of money from Nigerians. He specifically warned that they are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.

The IGP noted that the FSARS and other Police Tactical Squads remain a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country. He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights, extortion and high-handedness by some unscrupulous personnel of the Squads. He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road. They are to ensure immediate arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force.

Equally, the IGP has warned, that henceforth, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and the FCT as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any misconduct within their Area of Responsibility. He therefore charged them to ensure effective supervision and mentoring of the personnel of the Tactical Squads under their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, two operatives of the FSARS and their civilian accomplice operating in Lagos State, Inspectors Sale James  and Monday Uchiola with Mr Okechukwu Ogbonna, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for acts of professional misconduct including extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens. The operational vehicle of the men has also been impounded and disciplinary process has already commenced against the defaulters.

The IGP reaffirms his commitment to bequeathing to Nigerians, a reformed Police Force that is accountable, responsible and ever ready to defend and uphold the rights of the citizens while discharging its duties of keeping the people safe and secure. He enjoins the citizens not to allow the misconduct of a few unscrupulous personnel of the Force to negatively impact on their belief, confidence and trust in the Police. This appeal and reassurance was made public by 
DCP Frank MBA, the Force PRO.

Apart from the ban, Presidency has equally reassured citizens with express permission to do these two things:                  

1.   Make a Complain: Unlike before when Nigerians come online to cry for SARS maltreatment, now one can lay a legal complaint against any form of illegal confrontation by the SARS officials.

2.   Call The Police Emergency Number: A body has been provided to take care of any reports of Another SARS maltreatment. This you can access using the two numbers provided below:

  a.  080 5700 0001

  b.  080 5700 0003

This is a victory for Nigerians especially those that stand up for this victory. Aluta continua, Victoria Ascerta! In unity, more can be achieved. What are Nigerians going to stand up in unity against in the nearest future?