As part of on-going efforts to reform the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives of the squad would now undergo psychometric test, training and continuous assessment.
Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, disclosed this in his speech at a meeting with SARS Commanders for re-organisation of the squad, yesterday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
He said: “The NPF and its management being a responsive institution has monitored various concerns generated by these concerns (clamour for disbandment of SARS) and counter agitation … and commenced restructuring measures geared at accommodating the diverse interest of the vast Nigeria populace.
“…Consequently, the NPF in its proactive demonstration of sensitivity to the yearning and demands of modern policing has emplaced the under-listed measures to stem the remote concerns generated by perceived inadequacies of SARS operatives.”
According to him, “psychometric test, training and continuous assessment of operatives deployed to SRAS to determine the suitability or otherwise of their role in keeping with acceptable standard operating procedure,” would be conducted among other measures.
The police boss further disclosed that the sole mandate of the squad would be “to prevent, confront and solve cases related to armed robbery and other violent crimes.”
He said SARS operatives would be prohibited from conducting ‘Stop and Search’ on roads unless necessary, just as they are prohibited to act as body guards; delve into land matters; personal disputes; debt collection and matters that are considered civil.
Operatives of the squad, the Police boss also stated must operate in official uniforms, clearly marked for identification, and embark on operations only on the permission of the CP SARS, Deputy Commissioners of Police or Assistant Commissioners of Police ion the command they are answerable to.
He said the IGP’s Monitoring Units and the ‘X’ Squad and other over sight units of the force would monitor the activities of SARS operatives, just as citizens are encouraged to avail the Police ways to improve SARS operations across the country.
The Police boss, who maintained that “efforts of SARS operatives have brought hope and succour,” assured that the NPF under his leadership shall operate strictly and guided by the human rights principles as enshrined under the United Nations Charter on human rights and other extant laws.
