The Inspector General of Police has announced the immediate disbandment of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad and other tactical squads from routine patrol.
According to the official Twitter handle of the security unit, the IGP gave the order on the heels of public outcry over the unending brutality being perpetrated by SARS operatives daily. The condemnation was ignited with trending hashtags like #EndSarsNow #EnoughisEnough #EndPoliceBrutality #ENDSARSBRUTALITY
The Twitter post also noted that the police have also arrested two FSARS operatives as well as their civilian accomplice in Lagos.
IGP M.A Adamu also banned other tactical squads of the force, including the Special Tactical Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Anti-Cultism Squad, and other squads operating at the Federal, Zonal, and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols.
They were also banned from conducting other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect.
In furtherance to the Twitter post, the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, on Sunday released a comprehensive statement regarding the new directive.
According to the statement, the IGP’s directives came against the backdrop of findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads hide under these guises to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure, Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads.
The statement read in part: ”Specifically, the IGP has warned the tactical squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorised search of mobile phones, laptops, and other smart devices.
“They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.
“The IGP notes 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.
“The IGP has equally 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”
