THE ACTING PRESIDENT’S DIRECTIVE ON SARS:* THE NEED TO OVERHAUL THE ENTIRE NIGERIAN POLICE SYSTEM AND ENSURE PROPER FUNDING OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER) commends the acting President for directing the overhaul of the erstwhile Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

However, the directive is nebulous and does not depict any clear positive expectation with regards to structural and operational changes in the Nigerian Police system that would enhance the observation and enforcement of human rights.

SARS, as a police unit has had a national reputation for brutality and gross human rights violations. Documented studies and reports by human rights groups on the operations of SARS contain some of the worst cases of torture, extra-judicial killings and abuse of police powers across the world. Nigerians remained shocked beyond belief as they witnessed for a long time the norm of using SARS operatives as debt collectors and  elements used by oppressive persons to settle scores with their rivals.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sufficient powers in law to address cases of human rights violations and it does not require a directive from the Acting President to discharge its functions of ensuring the observation and enforcement of the human rights of Nigerians. A government that is genuinely interested in enforcing the human rights of Nigerian citizens would properly fund the NHRC and ensure that all persons found to have violated the human rights of Nigerians, are punished and their victims adequately compensated.

The swift and dramatic response of the Inspector General of Police to the directive of the Acting President appears cosmetic and does not in the face of it, address any of the problems of gross human rights abuses that are associated with the erstwhile SARS.

Therefore, nothing short of the total disbandment of the concept of special squads such as SARS and the establishment of a comprehensive, civil police operational standard, including training and  a review of the quality of individual policemen, may be a fitting starting point in reversing the obsolescent police service offered to Nigerians and the poor reputation of the Nigerian police.

*Frank Tietie*
Executive Director,
CITIZENS ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL & ECONOMIC RIGHTS (CASER)