By Ayo Kehinde
IGP, Mohammed Adamu
“All FSARS, STS, IRT & other Tactical @PoliceNG Squads operating at Federal, Zonal & Command levels have been BANNED from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop & search duties, checkpoints, roadblocks, traffic checks, with immediate effect.”
That is the opening paragraph of a statement issued by the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force, on Sunday, in reaction to runaway twitter by Nigerians from all works of life who reported live police brutality with pictures and videos as they were happening in different locations across the country at the instance of the killing of a young man and a lady by FSARS in Ughelli, Delta State. yesterday. The video went viral on social media. Footages of the incident showed the dead lady lying on the walkway and a young man holding on to the shirt of an armed FSARS officer to prevent him from running away, while others wept by the corpse and the car with shattered back windshield.
DCP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, Forec Headquarters, Abuja, who signed the Sunday press release, said that, “THenceforth, no @PoliceNG personnel is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti.
“All Police Force personnel must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear.
“All Tactical Squads must also desist from the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.
“Henceforth,the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State/FCT Commands as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any @PoliceNG misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR).
“The @PoliceNG authorities will step up monitoring of all activities of Tactical Squads (FSARS etc) and other police officers, nationwide, and ensure the prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all officers who violate these directives and other Force regulations.
The immediate reactions of Nigerians in their tweets to the statement is a watch- wait- and -see attitude as this would not be the first time such a ban would be made by the police authorities.
In fact on December 23, 2017, then Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, issued a ban, following complaints and protests by Nigerians against brutality of the same arm of the police, then known as SARS, until the name was changed to FSARS, perhaps to reflect the reform, the authorities intended to convey to the public. In July 2019 and December 2019, similar actions were taken by the IGP and nothing happened afterwards, forcing Nigerians to embark on a n #ENDSARS campaign.
The campaign started as a social media campaign using the hastag #ENDSARS to demand to an end to the extortion, brutality, unlawful arrest and detention of innocent Nigerians, often on the streets and homes, most of which are often posted on social media. Even relations of victims are often extorted to secure release of their wards.
FSARS is a branch of the Nigeria Police Force under the Force Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force (FCIID).
The squad deals with crimes such as armed robbery, car- snatching kidnapping, cattle rustling. Its officers carry guns, but do not wear Nigerian police uniforms, nor do they wear badges.
See A sample of reactions by Nigerians to the current ban:
Replying to @NGRPresident and @PoliceNG
If nothing happened after this by president Buhari (June 3, 2019 tweet) why should we believe now that things will change with this press statements? We want this rogue arm of the Police Force proscribed and disbanded forever in Nigeria. #EndSarsNow
Tosin Olugbenga @TosinOlugbenga Software & Blockchain Engineer | Web & Mobile App Developer
Replying to @NGRPresident
and @PoliceNG
This press statement is SATISFYING. We are working on setting up a DIGITAL network across the country to CHECKMATE the activities of the POLICE, whatever nomenclature they are tagged with. Name of Group: ACTION AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY.
Sorbari Igbiri @SIgbiri replying @NGRPresident, @WutaMotorsNG
and @PoliceNG
Very vague.. going forward, when your officers are seeing on the streets without uniform and engaging in illegal activity, what is the punishment. Who should they be reported to… How do we follow up to see what justice is done?
Nothing new. They’ll just go and restrategize… Besides I hear they now go through twitter
Let Frank MBA come on air and address it. Writing memo or press release is not the best. When citizens are angry someone should address is. If not the IG, then the PPRO
@ShakaEmzyman Replying to @NGRPresident and @PoliceNG
These people did this before and no actions were put in place. The killings didn’t stop, the exploitations became even worse. They did nothing! They might sneak into my room any day and I won’t have anyone to report to. I want to feel safe! I DON’T TRUST THEM! END IT!
Prince Attah @Princeattah1Replying to @barozrolly
Attah posted VP Osinbajo’s earlier tweet to show, like ex Anambra governor did on President Buhari, that Nigerians are yet to see action to end FSARS
@ProfOsinbajo 4:46 pm, August 14, 2018
@ProfOsinbajo 4:46 pm, August 14, 2018
Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, I have directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS.The IGP will ensure that any Unit that emerges from the process will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more. I have equally directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging Unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects.
Similarly, I have directed NHRC to set up a Special Panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress.
As things stand, Nigerians will not relent to demand an end to FSARS brutality until concrete action is taken.
