Enugu CP Orders SARS, Others To Fish Out ‘Unprofessional, Corrupt And Uncivil’ Policemen

Following the ban by the inspector-general of police, Mohammed Adamu, on the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and other tactical squads of the Force from performing routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties, including stop-and-search, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, and traffic checks, among others, the commissioner of police, Enugu State Command, CP Ahmad AbdurRahman, has directed total compliance with the ban and directives in the command.

To this end, the commissioner has directed officers in-charge of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Anti-Cultism Squad and Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command to, henceforth, desist from posting operatives to perform the banned duties. He however ordered the affected operatives to focus completely on the performance of the duties for which the units were established to handle, warning that anything in the contrary would be met with severe disciplinary actions.

A release by the state police public relations officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, made available to THE WHISTLER in Enugu, today, said, “The police commissioner further directed the deputy commissioner of police in-charge of the State CID, Command Provost Marshal, as well as officers in-charge of the State Intelligence Bureau and X-Squad to, henceforth, conduct intense covert and overt monitoring operations to ensure that the operatives of the command directly dealing with members of the public, by way of patrols, stop-and-search, investigations, and charge-room duties, comply with the Force’s extant Standard Operating Procedures and/or rules of engagement, including wearing of appropriate uniforms. They are also to identify and bring to book any police officer found to be unprofessional, corrupt, high-handed, uncivil and/or infringes on the fundamental human rights of citizens in the discharge of his/her duties.”

According to Ndukwe, “The commissioner also directed all area commanders, divisional police officers and heads of departments to properly supervise and ensure their subordinates maintain the highest level of professionalism, diligence, civility and/or respect for the fundamental human rights of citizens in the performance of their duties, as they will be held liable for any form of dereliction of duty.”

The commissioner, in the release, reassured of the command’s commitment to ensure fundamental human rights of citizens were upheld by the police, and called on the public, especially law-abiding citizens of the state, to continue to keep faith with the police and promptly report any erring police officer on or off duty to the nearest police station or by calling the command’s emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08086671202, 08075390883 or 08098880172; or send an e-mail to: [email protected].