Police to dismiss 37 ex-SARS officers, prosecute 24

TRACKING___About 37 former members of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad have been listed for dismissal from the Nigeria Police while 24 others are recommended for prosecution.

These were the highlights of the Report of the Presidential Panel on Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad set up by the Federal Government in 2018 to reform the dreaded unit.

The Police Service Commission yesterday met with the National Human Rights Commission and promised to speed up action on the implementation of the Report of the Presidential Panel on Reform of the SARS.

The National Human Rights Commission team, led by its Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, was in the Police Service Commission to formally present the 2018 Report of the Presidential Panel and to solicit the PSC support in the implementation of the aspects of the Report covered by PSC constitutional mandate.

The Presidential Panel had, among other things, investigated allegations of human rights violations and abuse of office against SARS and recommended reform or restructuring of the outfit.

Receiving the delegation, PSC Chairman, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police, said the PSC will collaborate and support the Human Rights Commission in the promotion of good governance.

He, however, said that for effective reform of the much-maligned SARS, there must be a deliberate effort to select capable, professional and credible people to replace the disbanded outfit.

He said that the selected officers must be properly trained and exposed to regular training, adding that there must also be close supervision of the newly selected officers so that the nation will not experience the rot that became the fate of the disbanded unit.

He, however, said the government should show more concern for the funding of its vital agencies as the agencies needed funds to do their job. He also made a case for proper accommodation for the officers of the Nigeria Police, stressing that they needed good accommodation to put in their best.

The Executive Secretary of the Human Rights Commission told the PSC Chairman that PSC has all it takes to deal appropriately with the Report of the Presidential Panel on Reform of Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Ojukwu said the reform is the most topical issue in the country today, adding that a lot is expected from the PSC.

He noted that the Panel called for and received 113 complaints on alleged human rights violations from across the country and 22 memoranda on suggestions on how to reform and restructure SARS and the Nigeria Police in general.

The Panel also directed the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to unravel the identity of 22 officers involved in the violation of the human rights of innocent citizens.