The operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, F-SARS and other Tactical Squads of the Nigeria Police Force has been banned from routine patrols including searching phones of citizens.
Mygossipshop reports that the order was coming after Nigerians call out the Police authorities and political authorities to disband this dreadly unit of the police force.
Responding to the complains of citizens, the IGP, Mohammed Adamu in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, banned the force unit from carrying out the usual patrols including other low-risk operations.
According to Mba, the IGP’s directive is with immediate effect. Our reporter said that the directive affects the Special Tactical Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels.
The order also includes banned the police units from setting up checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks and traffic checks. Meaning, no personnel of the Force is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti, according to our reporter.
There have been reports that few personnels of the police units hide under the guise of carrying out their official duty to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure, Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads, and these the development that led to the IGP’s new directive.
Again, the IGP warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through an indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.
The units therefore are authorized to only respond to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises, the statement noted.
