37 Ex-SARS Officers For Dismissal – Police Commission

The Police Service Commission (PSC) says it has listed 37 Ex-Operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for dismissal from service.

The commission made this known in a statement signed by its Head, Public Relation Officer, Okechukwu Ani, on Friday.

The statement titled, ‘PSC to partner Human Rights Commission, promises immediate action on report of presidential panel on reform of SARS’.

The PSC said 24 other ex-SARS personnel would be persecuted for varied acts of professional misconduct.

The decision was the highlights of the Report of the Presidential Panel on Reform of SARS set up by the Federal Government in 2018 to reform the dreaded unit.

According to the statement, the panel had investigated allegations of human rights violations and abuse of office against SARS and recommended reform or restructuring of the outfit.

While presenting the report to the PSC Chairman, Musiliu Smith, in Abuja on Friday, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, said there was a need to expedite the implementation of the panel recommendation.

“We have come to see a PSC determined to play a leading role in the reform of the Nigeria Police Force,” Ojukwu said.

Ojukwu said the reform was the most topical issue in the country today, adding the PSC chairman has all it takes to deal appropriately with the report of the panel.

He stated that the panel called for and received 113 complaints on alleged human rights violations from across the country and 22 memoranda on suggestions on how to reform and restructure SARS and the Nigeria Police Force in general.

“Ojukwu said at the end of the public hearing, the panel recommended 37 police officers for dismissal and 24 were recommended for prosecution,” the statement said.