As part of measures to reform the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, said on Friday that personnel of SARS would undergo a mental test.
He said the test is to ascertain their level of preparedness on the field and reduce cases of extrajudicial killings.
Idris, who also warned the SARS personnel not delve into civil matters, added that failure to comply with the new directives would attract adequate sanction.
He spoke in Abuja during a lecture with the field Commanders of SARS from various parts of the country.
The IGP also said the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations would now lead SARS as the Strategic Commander.
On the mental test, Idris said: “As part of ways to reform Special Anti-Robbery Squad, psychometric test, training and continuous assessment of operatives deployed to SARS to determine the suitability or otherwise of their role in keeping with acceptable standard operating procedure would be conducted.”
As a way to curtail their excesses, Idris also said the personnel would now operate in official uniforms which would be clearly marked for easy identification.
He added: “SARS operatives are prohibited from acting as bodyguards, delving into land matters, personal disputes, disputes, debt collection and matters that are considered civil.
“They are also prohibited from conducting stop and search on roads unless when necessary and can only embark on operations only on the permission of the CP in charge of SARS, Deputy Commissioners and ACPs operations in the Commands they are answerable to.”
The move is coming after Nigerians on social media called for the scrapping of the Police squad. Many back their call with personal experiences of brutality in the hands of the squad while some even added videos and photo evidence. However, the Police I G ordered a reform of the squad instead of the scraping demanded.
