If you detain suspect beyond 48 hours, risk dismissal – IGP warns

As the police complies with the order of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for a total overhaul of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad FSARS, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has warned FSARS personnels to respect the rights of Nigerians and if they go contrary to this, they would be severely punished.
The police chief made this known while reading the riot act at the Anambra State Police Command Headquarters, Amawbia at a lecture to officers of FSARS yesterday September 5th.
Idris who was represented at the event by the National Coordinator X-Squad, Amaechi Elumelu, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, said the membership of FSARS was voluntary and asked those who felt they could not cope with the ongoing reforms to opt out now. Idris said henceforth, any FSARS officer who detained any suspect beyond 48 hours without recourse to the court risked dismissal.
“You are created and authorised to handle only armed robbery and kidnapping cases. Operatives of FSARS are to be trained and retrained regularly to equip them with modern working knowledge and skills to perform optimally in line with international best practices.
“You’re barred from searching handsets and laptops of innocent citizens, unless the search is directly linked to a case or directed by IGP or any person or persons he so delegated. You’re prohibited from detaining any suspect beyond what the law says without recourse to the court.” he said


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