The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has barred operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, from conducting ‘stop-and-search on roads, involvement in civil matters including land disputes, personal disputes, debt collection and other civil issues.
Idris, who spoke during a meeting with SARS commanders at the Force Headquarters, Abuja on Friday, said the Nigeria Police Force under his leadership was worried by the clamour by some Nigerians that the unit be scrapped.
The IG directed that all operatives of the squad must henceforth appear in official uniform clearly marked for identification.
He said they could only conduct stop-and-search operation on roads when necessary, adding that such operation must be with the permission of Commissioner of SARS or Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations in the commands they are answerable to.
Any operation conducted by the operatives, according to the police boss, must be in a “non-discriminatory, proportional, fair and accountable manner.”
The police said the measures were part of the “proactive demonstration of its sensitives to the yearnings and demands of modern policing”.
“The NPF and its management being a responsible and a responsive institution has monitored various concerns generated,” the police tweeted via its handle.
“The concerns and counter agitation have painstakingly appropriated this valuable inputs from the Nigeria populace in line our democratic policing.”
The force added that in other to stem the remote concerns generated by perceived inadequacies of the squad, there will be direct supervision of SARS operation in each state command.
