Police Reorganise SARS Operations

Agency Report/

The acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Adamu Mohammed has ordered the decentralisation of operations of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in a bid to return officers to the path of professionalism.

Before this development, operations of SARS were centralized at the Force Headquarters. It was reorganised following alleged unethical conduct by personnel of the unit.

Mohammed gave the order at a meeting with officers in the rank of Commissioners of Police (CP) and above today in Abuja.

He said that with the new arrangement, the CPs in the 36 states and the FCT would assume full command and control on all SARS in their commands.

The police boss said henceforth the SARS unit in the force headquarters, would be under the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID).

He said that the DIG FCIID and CPs would be held liable for any professional misconduct resulting from the operations of the units in their commands.

Mohammed also directed them to evaluate the units in their commands and submit a report to his office within two weeks.

The police boss also announced the disbandment of the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) and Special Tactical Squad (STS) and other quasi-investigation and operation units of the force.

He said that the DIG FCIID would take over and review all cases being currently handled by the units.

Mohammed said that a comprehensive reorganisation of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counterterrorism unit and Special Protection Unit (SPU) would be undertaken.

“This re-positioning process will eventually cascade down to the zonal and state command levels,” he said.

He added that the essence of the reorganisation was to restore order and stop the current slide in policing standards.

According to him, the move would discourage the proliferation of multiplicity of outfits competing for operational space in an unprofessional manner.

He said that the capacity of personnel of the force would be enhanced towards situating its operations within the practice of intelligence-led policing, adding that at the end of the reform, a protocol that would document its outcome would be developed.

The police boss charged the officers to remain dedicated to their duties by exhibiting the highest level of leadership and character.

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