The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered
the immediate overhauling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(SARS) to address complaints and allegations on human
rights violations against some of the personnel of the unit by
members of the public.
This development came hours after a directive by the
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to overhaul SARS and
after months of #EndSARS campaign on Twitter by
some concerned Nigerians.
A statement by Force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said
in the new arrangement, a new Commissioner of Police
had been appointed as the overall head of the Federal
Special Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide.
The statement reads: “The Federal Special Anti-
Robbery Squad previously under the Force Criminal
Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID) is
henceforth to operate under the Department of
Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja. The
Commissioner of Police (FSARS) is answerable to the
Inspector General of Police through the Deputy
Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations.
“In observance of full compliance with the Presidential
directives, the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad will be
intelligence driven and will be restricted to the
prevention and detection of Armed Robbery,
kidnapping and the apprehension of offenders linked
to the stated offences only.
“New FSARS Commanders are being appointed for the
Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) across the
country that will now exist and operate in the State
and Zonal Commands under the Commissioner of
Police (F-SARS) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. A
Federal SARS Commander of a Rank of Chief
Superintendent of Police (CSP) but not below
Superintendent of Police (SP) will be in charge of
FSARS in State and Zonal Commands across the
Country.
“All Commissioners of Police have been directed by the
Inspector General of Police to comply with this
directive with immediate effect and warn their
personnel not to pose as SARS operatives. The IGP X-
Squad and Monitoring Unit have been mandated to go
round the Commands and Police Formations
nationwide to ensure strict compliance with the
Presidential directives and apprehend any erring
police officer.
