Breaking: IGP Bans FSARS, Other Tactical Squads From Routine Patrols, ‘Stop And Search’ Duties, Operating In Mufti
Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) from embarking on routine patrols and checks.
Also affected by the ban are members of the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Sunday, October 4 by the Force, Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba.
The officers were also warned against carrying out stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks with immediate effect.
According to the statement, the IGP has;
Banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (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 – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect.
In addition, no personnel of the Force is authorised to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti, saying they must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear.
Adamu also warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly.
This, he said, included the;
Indiscriminate and unauthorized 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.
Mba said the;
Directives come 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 (SOP), Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads.
The police boss 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 condemned every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads.
Adamu, in addition, 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 roads of the country.
The spokesman said;
They are to ensure prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force.
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 (AOR).
Adamu therefore charged them to ensure effective supervision and mentoring of the personnel of the Tactical Squads under their jurisdiction.
The directive comes in the wake of an outrage over alleged criminal and extra-judicial actions of FSARS officers against citizens in various parts of the country.
The outrage was triggered by a post from a Twitter user who alleged that he recorded SARS officials shooting a young boy dead at Ughelli, Delta state and driving away with the victim’s Lexus Jeep.
Following the circulation of the video, many Nigerians including celebrities took to social media to express their anger over the activities of men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, calling for the unit to be proscribed.
Due to this, various hashtags like #EndSars #EndSARSBrutality #WarsOnSARS has been trending on micro-blogging platform, Twitter since Saturday, bringing back to the fore calls for the proper handling of rogue, high-handed police officials.
Read the IGP’s full statement below;
