The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Muhammed Adamu has visited Ibadan the Oyo State capital.
The IGP is in the ancient city to assess level of destruction during the recent #EndSARS protests.
On the entourage of the IG is the Assistant General of Police, South West and also in charge of Research and Planning, Leye Oyebade.
The team arrived Ibadan at exactly 1.20 pm in a police-owned aircraft.
Fifteen police stations and outpost were burnt, one hundred vehicles belonging to the force were affected while five officers were killed during the protest.
Police in Ibadan have now complied with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Muhammed Adamu for officers to return to their duty posts.
According to Radio Nigeria reporter who monitored some traffic-prone areas in Ibadan, some officers were seen in mufti performing skeletal duties.
A police officer who pleaded anonymity said, though the IGP ordered them to return to their duty posts after some officers were killed during the protest, they needed to be sure of their safety.
He said, the shock from the death their colleagues who died during the protest still lingered in their memories, hence the need for them to operate mostly in mufti.
It would be recalled that the #EndSARS protest that occurred some weeks back, subjected police officers to attacks by suspected hoodlums which led to their withdrawal from public places.
Despite the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Muhammed Adamu for officers to return to their duty posts after the #EndSARS protest that rocked the nation, the police in Ibadan are yet to comply.
The protest which made police officers object of attacks by suspected hoodlums led to their withdrawal from public places.
Reacting, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo state, Mr Nwachuku Enwonwu said the police were the major targets during the protest which resulted to death of officers and burning of several police stations.
Mr Enwonwu said the action made the force to withdraw officers to the headquarters to avoid further attacks.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police stated further that, the command is putting in place strategies before the redeployment of officers to the road to prevent further clashes.
Mr Enwonwu restated the commitment of the command to the protection of lives and property at all times.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Muhammed Adamu bans personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads from mounting checkpoints and carrying out routine patrols.
This is contained a statement signed and issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Frank Mba in Abuja.
Full text of the statement below
In reply please quote
Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.3/25
Date: 4th October, 2020
The Director of News
…………………………….
PRESS RELEASE
IGP BANS FSARS, OTHER POLICE TACTICAL SQUADS FROM ROUTINE PATROLS
– As Police Arrest 2 FSARS Operatives, 1 Civilian Accomplice in Lagos State
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect.
In addition, no personnel of the Force is authorized to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti.
They must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear.
The IGP’s directives come against the backdrop of findings by the leadership of the Force that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads hide under these guise to perpetrate all forms of illegality, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement establishing the squads.
Specifically, the IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.
They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.
The IGP notes that the FSARS and other Police Tactical Squads remain a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country.
He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads.
He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road.
They are to ensure prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force.
The IGP has equally warned, that henceforth, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and the FCT as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR).
He therefore charged them to ensure effective supervision and mentoring of the personnel of the Tactical Squads under their jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, two operatives of the FSARS and their civilian accomplice operating in Lagos State, INSPR Sale James, INSPR Monday Uchiola and Okechukwu Ogbonna, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for acts of professional misconduct including extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens.
The operational vehicle of the men has also been impounded and disciplinary procedure has already commenced against the defaulters.
The IGP reaffirms his commitment to bequeathing to Nigerians, a reformed Police Force that is accountable, responsible and ever ready to defend and uphold the rights of the citizens while discharging its duties of keeping the people safe and secure.
He enjoins the citizens not to allow the misconduct by a few personnel of the Force to negatively impact on their belief, confidence and trust in the Police.
Osun State Governor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola says the structure of community policing will enhance the effective security and welfare of the society.
Alhaji Oyetola stated this while inaugurating Community Policing Advisory Committees at the Local Government Service Commission Hall in Osogbo.
He said the idea was borne out of the need to allow the people to participate in policing at the community level to achieve effective, efficient security and safety architecture.
In an address, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Muhammed Adamu called on Nigerians to seize the opportunity presented by community policing to promote peace and security awareness in their respective communities.
Mr Adamu, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General Of Police, Mr David Folawiyo advised the public to use the community policing structure to ensure intelligence gathering to promote communal peace, adding that it offers the best platform for crime-fighting.
