Nigerians have welcomed the ban on the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad and other Tactical Squads of the Nigerian Police Force from routine patrols.
The Inspector-General of Police, MOHAMMED ADAMU, ordered the ban in response to widespread complaints about the activities of the F-SARS and other Tactical Squads.
IGP ADAMU order also extends to Intelligence Response Team, Anti-Cultism Squad, and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal, and Command levels.
They are also forbidden from carrying out routine patrols and other conventional low-risk duties, such as stop-and-search, checkpoints, roadblocks, and traffic checks.
In addition, IGP ADAMU said no personnel of the Police Force is authorized to go on patrols or tactical assignments without being in uniform or tactical gear.
Force Public Relations Officer, D.C.P. FRANK MBAH said the IGP’s directives followed the discovery that a few personnel of the Tactical Squads had been involved in all forms of illegality.
D.C.P. MBAH said they are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes when the need arises.
He said the IGP also ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit of the Force to carry out nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has arrested two operatives of the F-SARS and their civilian accomplice for engaging in acts of professional misconduct.
They are Inspectors SALE JAMES and MONDAY UCHIOLA, while the suspected civilian collaborator was identified as OKECHUKWU OGBONNA.
Inspectors SALE and UCHOLA, as well as OGBONNA, are being investigated for alleged extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens.