NIGERIA
Policing the Police
Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ordered the head of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to overhaul the controversial Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), following an #EndSARS petition circulated on social media calling for the unit to be disbanded.
Osinbajo, who is acting head of state while President Muhammadu Buhari is on holiday in Britain, also ordered an independent investigation after “persistent complaints and reports” that bordered on “allegations of human rights violations”, Reuters reported.
The unit has been dogged by accusations including “extortion from, disappearance and the deaths of countless citizens” according to #EndSARS activist Segun Awosanya.
Rather than disband it, NPF chief Inspector General Ibrahim Idris sacked the unit’s chief and human rights desk officers and said it will now be called the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS).
Notably, Idris had vowed a similar reorganization after the upper house of parliament voted in December 2017 to investigate the unit.
No comments:
Post a Comment