IGP orders SARS operatives to wear uniform for identification, as Lagos police boss recalls DPO over corruption allegation

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has ordered members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to wear police uniforms with full identification, pending the launch of new FSARS uniform.
The force Spokesman, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jimoh Moshood, said in a statement in Abuja on Friday that Idris gave the order at a meeting with critical stakeholders.
Moshood said that Idris was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of police in Charge of Operations, Mr Habila Joshak.
He said that the meeting was convened to brief the stakeholders on the progress made so far in the overhaul of the SARS now known as Federal SARS.
The Police boss said that the overhaul of SARS was beyond rhetoric as strategic reforms were being implemented.
He said that the FSARS operatives had been ordered to desist from attending to civil or commercial matters henceforth and focus strictly on armed robbery and kidnapping cases only.
According to Moshood, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Mr Habiru Gwandu, informed the meeting that a human rights desk had been created in the 36 states of the federation and FCT.
He said that the desks would address cases of infractions against members of the public by FSARS personnel across the nation.
Gwandu added that the Police had engaged the services of psychologists and counsellors in the ongoing screening of FSARS operatives.
On his part, the DCP in charge of the IGP’s X-Squad, Amaechi Elumelu, said in the statement that the screening and mobilization of FSARS Operatives would not be business as usual again.
He said that FSARS operatives would undergo through rigorous orientation including human rights training among other screening processes.
Elumelu said that the IGP would soon unveil the Custody Records Management System.
He explained that this system would contain the records of arrests, detentions and welfare details of suspects.
The commissioner said that this system would discourage arbitrary arrest of people and ensure that suspects were charged to court within 24 hours, in compliance with the law.
Then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on August 14, directed the immediate overhaul of SARS.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Pen Cinema Police Division, Lagos State, Harrison Nwabuisi, has been recalled to the state Police Command headquarters following  corruption allegation levelled against him.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the command, CSP Chike Oti, Nwabuisi was recalled by the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, following a media report of the allegation.
“The attention of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, has been drawn to a newspaper publication on August 24, 2018, captioned ” Power-drunk Lagos DPO leads team to mosque, raid adherents, others.”
“The reporter mentioned that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Pen Cinema Police Division, Lagos State, Harrison Nwabuisi, has been conducting raids during which he allegedly arrested innocent residents and extorted money from them.
“He further reported that the police operation took place on Wednesday, being the last day of the Sallah holiday, at Alimi Ogunyemi Street, in the Ifako Ijaiye area and mentioned one Sheriff Aranjure as a prime witness to the alleged extortion by the DPO.
“Sequel to the allegation, the Commissioner of Police directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yetunde Longe, to investigate the officer and other ranks against whom the allegation was made.
“He equally directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, DCP Elkanah Ayuba, to recall the DPO to the command headquarters to allow for unbiased investigation into the matter.
“The command is, therefore, appealing to Mr Sheriff Anjure, said to be a vital witness and indeed other witnesses in the matter, to make themselves available to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, SCIID, Panti Yaba, to assist police in the investigation.
“While recognising the fact that raiding is a major crime fighting strategy of the police, given that it enables proactive intervention into a budding problem, the commissioner of police however, said that it must be purposeful, corruption- free and Intelligence-driven.
“He, therefore, assures members of the public that if the allegation is found to be true, any officer or men found culpable in the matter, would be appropriately sanctioned in accordance with the relevant sections of the Police Act,” Oti said.