Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered an immediate overhaul of the management of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
He also ordered the immediate probe of the activities of the squad by a panel to be set up by the National Human Rights Commission.
The order followed the series of complaints of human rights violations against SARS.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice President), Laolu Akande, the order was issued to the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris with the aim of making SARS intelligence-driven.
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The statement reads: “Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any Unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.
“The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging Unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects. The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.
“The Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Special Panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.”
