The Police IG might just be serious about #ReformSARS

Ibrahim Idris YNaija

As part of measures to restructure the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on Friday, said that personnel of SARS would undergo a mental test.

  • He spoke in Abuja during a lecture with the field Commanders of SARS from various parts of the country.
  • He said the test is to ascertain their level of preparedness on the field and reduce cases of extrajudicial killings.
  • Idris, who also warned the SARS personnel not delve into civil matters, added that failure to comply with the new directives would attract adequate sanction.
  • The IGP also said the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations would now lead SARS as the Strategic Commander.

Idris said: “As part of ways to reform SARS, psychometric test, training and continuous assessment of operatives deployed to SARS to determine the suitability or otherwise of their role in keeping with acceptable standard operating procedure would be conducted.”

  • As a way to curtail their excesses, Idris also said the personnel would now operate in official uniforms which would be clearly marked for easy identification.

He added: “SARS operatives are prohibited from acting as bodyguards, delving into land matters, personal disputes, disputes, debt collection and matters that are considered civil.

They are also prohibited from conducting stop and search on roads unless when necessary and can only embark on operations only on the permission of the CP in charge of SARS, Deputy Commissioners and ACPs operations in the Commands they are answerable to.”

What we think: The IGP has indeed made a good move towards organising mental tests for SARS personnel, means the Police chief is serious about restructuring the Police Unit.

Maybe, we can then know that for once, a directive will be pushed through. We await the ‘action’, not the ‘talk’.

But, we still have not seen prosecution of SARS personnel who have been engaged in one form of intimidation or extra-judicial killing of innocent Nigerians, especially when the actual criminals are still walking the streets.

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