Nigerian Police Force Release Statement Following Acting President Osibanjo Directive To Overhaul SARS / SARS To Be Known As FSARS

"The Nigeria Police Force has released an official statement in compliance with acting President Yemi Osinbajo‘s directive that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad be overhauled.

Read the press statement below.

PRESS RELEASE

RE- PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON IMMEDIATE OVERHAUL OF SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD (SARS) · IGP IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE HAS ORDERED IMMEDIATE OVERHAULING OF SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD (SARS) ACROSS THE COUNTRY · THE OUTFIT WILL NOW BE KNOWN AS FEDERAL SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD (FSARS). ALL SARS TEAMS NATIONWIDE HAVE BEEN COLLAPSED UNDER FSARS · A NEW COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE OVERALL HEAD OF THE FEDERAL SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD NATIONWIDE.

The Inspector General of Police in compliance with the Presidential directives has ordered the immediate overhauling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to address complaints and allegations on human rights violations against some of the personnel of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from members of the public in some parts of the Country.

2. In the new arrangement, a new Commissioner of Police has been appointed as the overall head of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad nationwide.

3. The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad previously under the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (FCIID) is henceforth to operate under the Department of Operations, Force Headquarters Abuja. The Commissioner of Police (FSARS) is answerable to the Inspector General of Police through the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations.

4. In observance of full compliance with the Presidential directives, the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad will be intelligence driven and will be restricted to the prevention and detection of Armed Robbery, kidnapping and the apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences only.

5. New FSARS Commanders are being appointed for the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) across the country that will now exist and operate in the State and Zonal Commands under the Commissioner of Police (F-SARS) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

This is the press release: