The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has said that the disbandment of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) should rather be a clarion call by the Police authority to beef up and review security in the country.
The CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani and the Legal Adviser and Board member, Adesina Oke, told newsmen on Monday in Abuja that while they commend the disbanding of the F-SARS, this should not be the end of it all.
“We call on the Police Management Team to ensure reorientation of the police to comply with Human Rights standards as part of the larger police sector reform. CISLAC is currently working with the Police Complaints Response Unit to strengthen its effectiveness in the handling and management of unprofessional and unethical conduct, as well as emergency response,” Rafsanjani said.
He also called for the immediate investigation and prosecution of all police officers who have been accused of grave human rights violation, such as extra judicial executions, torture and other ill-treatment, as recommended by Amnesty International.
“We ask that the welfare of the police and provision of adequate facilities and infrastructure take precedence in the ongoing reform of the police force,” Rafsanjani said.
On his part, Oke, a lawyer said that the disbandment of the F-SARS is a step in the right direction but it should not be the end.
He said that the police will require a complete reform that that will include training and retraining on the protection of civilians, on Human Rights and the Rule of Law.
Oke said the police should not be discourage from fighting crime and that they should rather see it as a clarion call to reform and strategize so as to excel in their primary duty of maintaining law and order and a peaceful and crime free society.
He said, “We call for adequate remuneration for the police as well as quality training and adequate welfare. The Police cannot be effective if they are ill-equipped.”
