By: Hyacinth Chinweuba
Chairman of the committee on the overhaul of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), South West Zone, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Adepoju Ilori, has assured that any policeman serving in the unit would undergo a psychological test.
Ilori also hinted that FSARS operatives would soon be provided with a uniform to distinguish them from other police units, for proper identification.
The committee was set up by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, in compliance with the presidential directive on the reformation of FSARS.
Ilori and his team, during an assessment tour of FSARS cells in the South West, rated Lagos FSARS high and commended the officer in charge, CSP Peter Gana, who he said lived up to standard.
Ilori’s team, who interviewed some of the suspects in detention to ensure that only robbery and kidnap suspects were held in the cells, said they were happy with the standard and conditions of the cells.
The committee chairman, however, directed Gana to expedite action towards ensuring that investigation into cases were concluded and charged to court in good time.
Addressing journalists at the end of the tour, Ilori said that the IGP constituted the committee to embark on a nationwide inspection of FSARS detention facilities, with immediate effect.
According to him, the committee was constituted with the directive to decongest the facilities and to also look into the activities of the unit as well as submit a comprehensive report.
He said the committee in charge of the South West zone has swung into action and started the task of inspecting and reviewing all cases under investigation by FSARS.
“We intend to visit all the Federal SARS facilities in all the commands in the South West and ensure that the IGP’s directives are strictly complied with.
But to achieve this, we are soliciting for the usual unflinching support of the media, the CLO, human rights organisations and the entire public to promptly report their observations to the CP of the state command probably through the PRO.
“We cannot achieve this without the cooperation of all. We are very sure, as from now, you are going to see a positively transformed FSARS.
The unit will concentrate strictly on specific duties of nipping robbery and kidnapping in the bud and deal with violent crimes. They will not be involved in land and civil matters, as directed by the IGP.
“The committee is saddled with the responsibility of implementing the directives of the Presidency.
“We have the committee members also doing the same thing in the South South, South East, and North Central zones. It is happening simultaneously in other parts of the country.
This is our first point of call; as per this particular SARS formation, I think it is doing the right thing. We have inspected the cells, we also inspected the women’s cell, they are up to expectations.
We are transparent and that was why we invited the media, to avoid any suspicious acts,” Ilori said.