IGP takes major action following EndSARS campaign; summons commanders

- All commanders of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have been summoned to Abuja for a training programme, by the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris

- The training follows recent calls for the squad to be scrapped, and is parts of efforts to reorganize the group

- The commissioner of police in charge of SARS has also disclosed that the squad would now concentrate only on violent crimes- robbery, kidnapping, murder, cultism and other related violence

The inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, has summoned all commanders of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to Abuja for a training programme, New Telegraph reports.

The development is part of efforts to reorganize the elite squad, following the #EndSARS campaign.

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NAIJ.com gathers that IGP Idris has also warned police operatives across the country to desist from engaging in any action which would compromise the general elections slated for 2019.

He stated: “Officers should be aware that from next year, we are entering a critical phase in the critical phase of this country. And this critical phase includes most of the elections that will be conducted.

“Officers should be steadfast, to ensure wherever you find yourself, you do your utmost best to ensure that the political situation will be handled maturely and orderly.

“We have to avoid temptation wherever we find ourselves. Try to avoid temptation of the political actors and other people that may try to tempt you, at the cost of having a smooth election.

“Like I said earlier, I appreciate every police officer of all ranks. We are doing our best within the limited resources available to us. And, I believe we will continue to deliver the best for this country.”

Haliru Gwandu, the newly-appointed commissioner of police in charge of SARS, also gave the assurance that the squad was reorganized and restructured.

He stated: “The reorganization of SARS is currently ongoing. Under the reorganization, the SARS now will collapse under the supervision of CP commands. The commands will now supervise the activities of SARS.

“Already, all the SARS commanders and those SARS units under the Federal SARS, are in town for IGP’s training. There are so many other things that SARS are asked not to do.

“For now, the SARS are going to concentrate only on violent crimes: robbery, kidnapping, murder, cultism and other related violence.

“Those tactical teams in the Commands and Divisions, that usually wear the outfit of SARS, will no longer wear the outfit of SARS.

“In essence, the reorganization is going to look like this- those SARS commanders will behave like squadron commanders, who are being supervised by CP Commands. And, centrally, to be answerable to DIG Operations.”

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Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that the inspector general of police, Idris Kpotun Ibrahim on Monday, December 4, ordered the immediate re-organization of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across the country.

The order was as a result of the #EndSARS campaign launched on Twitter by some Nigerians to expose some of the atrocities committed by operatives of the squad.

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Source: Naija.ng