The
Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has warned the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives against torture and extra-judicial
killings, saying no policeman in the world had the right or authority to
kill crime suspects.
Mr. Idris admonished the SARS personnel to
always respect the right of every Nigerian, noting that this was the way
they could change the negative public perception about them.
Addressing
SARS operatives and their commanders from various state commands at the
Force Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja, the IG, in a veiled reference
to the Amnesty International’s criticism of the squad, stated that the
policemen had a lot to do to correct the public perception that they did
not follow due process in their operations.
He said that the
squad would undergo retraining and restructuring, adding that the civil
society organisations would be involved in the revamping process to
contribute to the training programme.
Mr. Idris stated that the
squad would have an intelligence arm to assist with intelligence
gathering, stressing that the SARS’ operation would be intelligence-led,
henceforth.
According to the IG, the operatives would be issued
new badges and placed under state Commissioners of Police, while those
in Abuja and Lagos would be under the Deputy Inspector-General of Police
in charge of operations.
He warned against the use of excessive force and reckless use of firearms, which he said could cause public panic.
He
said: “You should respect the constitutional right of every Nigerian;
you don’t have authority to take lives, you don’t have authority to
change a civil case to a criminal case, you don’t have the right to
torture suspects.
“You should conduct yourself to the admiration
of the people. Don’t portray yourself as a demon. SARS is not devilish;
you have to change the face of SARS by handling cases justly. Don’t turn
the complainant into a criminal. You have to be sincere in dealing with
the public.”
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