The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim
Idris, has warned the Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives against
torture and extra-judicial killings, saying no policeman in the world
had the right or authority to kill crime suspects.
He 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.
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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