The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, on Sunday, 4th October, 2020 announced the immediate ban of some activities of the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS).
The Police chief also banned 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.
The IGP instructed them to stop carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc.
Bibian Anekwe News reports this comes in response to the series of online protests against the indiscriminate and unjustified actions of the SARS operatives by Nigerians with the hashtag #EndSARS.
Nigerians on different occasions have called for an end to SARS due to their actions which have led to the death of innocent Nigerians or seen some assaulted.
Below are ten major points you need to know about what the IGP told FSARS, others in his new instruction on Sunday.
1. The IGP has banned FSARS, STS, and IRT from routine patrol on the streets.
2. The IGP has also banned FSARS, STS, and IRT from conventional low-risk duties – stop and search, checkpoint, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc with immediate effect.
3. The IGP has warned that no police officer including personnel of FSARS, STS, and IRT is authorized to embark on patrol or tactical assignment in mufti.
4. The IGP has directed that the FSARS, STS, and IRT operatives must appear in their uniforms or approved tactical gear while on official assignment.
5. The IGP has banned the indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops, and other smart devices.
6. The IGP has directed that personnel of FSARS and other Tactical Squads concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes when the need arises.
7. The IGP has ordered the X-Squad and the monitoring unit to monitor and arrest erring personnel of FSARS and other policemen on the road.
8. The IGP warned that henceforth, the CP in charge of FSARS, CPs in charge of State Commands and FCT, as well as their supervisory zonal AIGs, will be held responsible for the misconduct of personnel of FSARS and others within their jurisdiction.
9. The IGP has also charged the affected AIGs and CPs to ensure the effective supervision of the personnel of FSARS and others within their jurisdiction.
10. The IGP appealed to citizens not to allow the misconduct by a few personnel of the force to negatively impact on their trust and confidence in the police.
