Lagos CP Bars SARS From Detaining Suspects

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has assured strict monitoring of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives in the state, saying the new directives by the Inspector- General of Police (IGP) would be adhered to.

Odumosu gave this assurance while featuring on Channels Television‘s Programme, Sunrise Daily, on Tuesday.

Following the directives by IGP, Muhammed Adamu, a sensitisation lecture was held to educate officers in the state on the new order, Odumosu said.

To that regard, the commissioner said operatives of SARS in the state will no longer have the authority to unilaterally detain suspects.

“The additional directive I gave yesterday (Monday) is that they must not even go to investigate any case without booking their arrival at the Area Commander’s office so that the Area Commander will know that they are in that area doing what they ought to do. And once they finish, they must go back and file entry.

“Secondly, I gave a directive that they must not detain anybody in their cells any longer. They can only detain at my office or at the Area Commander’s office. And the Area Commander must interview any suspect they want to detain and ascertain that the suspect had done what warranted being detained.”

The website had earlier reported outrage across the country over harassment, extortion and extra-judicial killings of innocent Nigerians by SARS operatives.

The Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, were among Nigerians who condemned the misconduct of the operatives calling for a total overhaul of the Force.

The IGP, in his reaction, banned SARS personnel from engaging in routine patrols, stop-and-search, mounting of roadblocks and traffic checks with immediate effect.

Backing the IGP, Odumosu said the recent directive will be more effective than earlier directives issued to curtail the excesses of SARS operatives.

“It is going to be different because there will be more monitoring and more supervision,” Odumosu said.