WHY FSARS CAN’T BE SCRAPPED – IGP

Emmanuel Ukudolo l Tuesday, January 30, 2018

PORT HARCOURT, Rivers, Nigeria – Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris has explained that though there has been some official misconduct among officials of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad(FSARS), the agency will not be scrapped.

The IGP who was speaking on the role of community policing in the fight against crime, role of traditional rulers, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State said the unit will not be scrapped due to the strategic role it plays in the fight against crime.

According to him, the unit has been reorganised with their function now limited to heinous crimes such as ARMED ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING adding that they have been excluded from issues having to do with land cases and other minor crimes.

The IGP who also spoke on recent killings in Benue State by herdsmen said those that were involved in the massacre have been arrested adding that they are currently undergoing trial. He said that anybody who kills must face the consequence of his action, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari has given an order to his office to evolve way to end recurrent clashes between herdsmen and farmers whom he said must live together amicably.

He said traditional rulers have a role to play in fighting crime since they know every nook and corner in their settlement. He said that insufficient fund is hindering effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force to fight crimes, stressing that the MD Yusuf Committee stated that N560 billion is needed annually to position the police force to perform effectively but that only N10 billion was released to the police in 2017 for capital and recurrent expenditure.

He however said hope is not lost as arrangement is being made to supplement funding through the Police Trust Fund Act which he said has been passed by the National Assembly.

He told the traditional rulers that Bail is free and charged them to take the gospel to their subjects, stressing that Nigerians have a duty to report any officer that collects money for bail to his office for appropriate action.