No fewer than 37 police officers attached to the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) have been recommended for dismissal over allegations bordering on human rights violations.
From the data contained in the report of the Special Presidential Panel set up by the Federal Government in 2018 on reform of SARS, no fewer than 24 officers would face prosecution over various professional misconducts.
Disclosing this while submitting the report of the panel to the Police Service Commission, the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, charged the commission to ensure speedy implementation of the findings.
Besides, the panel submitted that capable, professional and credible people must be selected into SWAT unit as part of efforts to bring reform into the police force.
“There must also be close supervision of the newly selected officers so that the nation will not experience the rot that became the fate of the disbanded unit.
“The panel also directed the Inspector General of Police to unravel the identity of 22 officers involved in the violation of the human rights of innocent citizens,” the report pointed out.
Idowu Sowunmi
