…As Rivers Command issues complaints numbers
By: Admin
The Nigerian Police Force has said the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), cannot be scrapped because of its potency in combating criminality and deadly criminal gangs in the country.
It, however, disclosed that the Police headquarters is currently reforming the operations of SARS officers nationwide to curtail their excesses.
Speaking during an Instagram Live Chat with Nigerian artiste, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley on Tuesday morning, Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Frank Mba, advised Nigerians to take video recordings of SARS operatives who abuse their fundamental human rights “as long as it is safe to do so.”
Mba said, “What we need to do is to reform SARS and make them responsive, responsible and make them work in accordance with laid down procedures. “We need them to continue to respond to violent crimes. We need them to continue to respond to armed robberies. We need them to continue to respond to kidnappings.”
During the interaction, Naira Marley agreed that the special arm of the Police should not be scrapped but be reformed saying, “You talk about End SARS, you cannot end SARS but let us ask for reform. Why do you want to end SARS? Are you an armed robber?”.
While expressing support for the directive of the IGP to get SARS operatives off the roads, Marley said, “SARS is a special arm that should only come out during robbery incidents.”
Furthermore, he urged the Police to give an update on SARS operatives that have been arrested and what has been done to compensate the families of the victims allegedly killed by SARS officers.
Rivers Police Command issues numbers to call in case of SARS harassment.
Meanwhile, in keeping with the Directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, on checking the excesses and sanitizing the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in all the States of the Federation, the Commissioner of Police Rivers State, CP Joseph G. Mukan has directed that the spirit and letter of the IGP’s directives must be fully carried out to its logical conclusion.
The CP made this declaration after a meeting with Members of the Management Team in his Office whom he directed to closely monitor the enforcement and ensure total compliance of the directives.
He noted that the CP’s Monitoring Team will be fully re-energized to enforce compliance and complement the efforts of the IGP’s X-Squad deployed to the State.
Recall that a Release from the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba dated 4th October 2020 clearly banned the FSARS and other Tactical Squads from Routine Patrol on the streets.
According to the release, the Inspector General of Police has banned FSARS, STS and IRT from conventional low-risk duties- stop and search, check Point, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc with immediate effect.
The IGP warned that no Police Officer including personnel of FSARS, STS and IRT is authorized to embark on patrol or tactical assignment in mufti.
He has equally directed that FSARS, STS and IRT personnel must appear in their Police Uniforms or approved Tactical gear while on official assignment.
The IGP also banned the indiscriminate and unauthorized search of Mobile Phone, Laptops and other smart devices and 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.
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 and 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 liable for the misconduct of personnel of FSARS and others within their jurisdiction.
CP Mukan in a statement by Nnamdi Omoni, the public relations officer of the command appealed to the residents of the State to rekindle their trust in the Police as this measure by the IGP will in no doubt reposition the Force and inspire confidence.
He, therefore, assured them of improved Police services in the days ahead while enjoining them to call the following numbers in the event of an infraction, unprofessional conduct, abuse of rights by the personnel of these Departments or any Police Departments whatsoever.
i. IGP Monitoring Unit — 08036242591
ii. CP FSARS — 08038537825
iii. Force Public Complaint — 07056792062
iv. Complaint Response Unit— 08057000001—call only 08057000003 – Whatsapp only
v. Rivers Command Control Room— 08032003514
vi. DC OPS –08035902114
vii. DC CID – 08033046079
viii. CP Monitoring Unit — 08035437061
ix. PPRO — 08033396538
