Extra-judicial killings: IGP to rebrand SARS, police over misuse of firearms

From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

INSPECTOR General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase,

has vowed to rebrand the force’s Special Anti-Robbery

Squad (SARS) to stem the high rate of extra-judicial

killings and misuse of firearms by his men across the

country.

Addressing the rank and file of the Oyo State Police

Command at Eleyele, Ibadan, yesterday, during his one-

day working visit to the state, he disclosed that the

rebranding would be a holistic one, but would begin with

SARS.

Arase was received by the state’s Commissioner of Police,

Mr. Leye Oyebade, who said the command has adopted

community policing as a veritable tool for maintaining law

and order in the state in line with the vision of the IGP.

The rebranding, Arase stated, would include training,

change of uniform and perception, change of investigative

skills and make members of the squad situate their

activities within the dictate of the rule of law.

Arase, who earlier met with the critical stakeholders in the

state such as traditional rulers, chiefs, religious leaders,

farmers, Fulani herdsmen, Bankers’ Forum, transporters

and so on, warned that he would not hesitate to prosecute

any policeman who misuses his firearm, adding that they

must respect the rights of Nigerians. The firearms, he

said, were bought with taxpayers’ money, and so, the

firearms should not be used against the taxpayers, adding:

“We have been inundated with complaints about misuse of

firearms.”

He said he had told all the Commissioners of Police that

no officer was immune to the Criminal Law, and any po­

liceman that shoots any Nigerian, would be prosecuted,

adding: “I don’t want to hear that it was an accidental dis­

charge or it was an error.”

Arase also read the riot act to the DPOs and Area

Commanders against forcing subordinate officers to extort

money from members of the public, warning that the junior

officers are not to engage in any practice outside the

purview of police mandate.