Why We Can’t Abolish SARS – Nigeria Police Gives Reasons—-Agitations and protest from angry Nigerians over the past days have been geared towards the abolishment of SARS but all their actions might just be for naught.
The Federal SARS cannot be scrapped because it is still needed to combat armed robbery and other violent crimes across the country DCP Frank Mba, PRO of the NPF said.
During a live Instagram chat with popular Nigerian musician Naira Marley, Mba gave reasons for retaining the department but also assured Nigerians that more will be done to monitor them to ensure the rights of citizens are not violated.
For the citizens to help police authorities to further sanitise the Force, Mba said: “But if a policeman is doing something wrong, you can take pictures and record videos and send them to us. But make sure you do so safely.
“If you feel in your interactions with the police that they are beginning to cross the line, you can take pictures and videos as long as it is safe for you to do so. When you send them to us, we will definitely follow up the matter and see it to a logical conclusion”.
The Genius Media recalls that IGP Adamu had earlier released 10 things on his position on the Federal SARS and they are:
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, check point, mounting of road blocks, 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 personnel must appear in their police 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 liable for misconduct of personnel of FSARS and others within their jurisdiction.
9. In line with paragraph eight (8) above, the IGP has charged the affected AIGs and CPs to ensure an effective supervision of personnel of FSARS and others within their jurisdiction.
10. The IGP has appealed to citizens not to allow the misconduct by a few personnel of the Force to negatively impact on their confidence and trust in the Police.
