SARS Officials to Wear Uniform, Restricted to Robbery and Kidnap Cases.
Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) has received orders for the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris to wear police uniforms with full identification.
In a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, on Friday, operatives of SARS are to comply with the directive pending the launch of a new uniform for the squad.
Mr Idris gave this directive at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja while highlighting the progress made by the police in the overhaul of the squad, in line with a presidential directive.
Mr Idris, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations), Mr Habila Joshak, stressed that the overhaul of SARS was beyond rhetoric and that real reform was taking place.
He disclosed that among other things, Federal SARS operatives would no longer attend to civil and commercial matters again, but strictly to armed robbery and kidnap cases only.
Also speaking at the stakeholders meeting, newly appointed Commissioner of Police Federal SARS, Mr Habiru Gwandu, informed the gathering of the creation of a Human Rights Desk in every state of the Federation which will help note and address cases of infractions against members of the public by FSARS personnel anywhere in the country, in collaboration with other human rights organisations.
Mr Gwandu added that the police have involved the services of psychologists and counsellors in the ongoing screening of FSARS operatives.
Reacting to the latest development, social media activist, Mr Segun Awosanya, who was in attendance and who also spearheaded the #ENDSARS Campaign, thanked the President for ordering the overhaul of SARS.
He described the government as a listening one and called for trust between Nigerians and the police.
“If it is well with the police, it is well with the nation,” said Awosanya who promised to support the Force in the reform process.
