Nigeria Police and Special Anti-Robbery Squad

There is a true story of a young Irish couple who lived in Benin City for a few years. The couple were following their dream of travelling around the world, and paid their way by taking up short term teaching appointments in different countries. The wife taught kindergarten while her husband taught chemistry. As a kindergarten teacher, she read out stories to infants. One of her favourites is about a little boy who lost his puppy dog which subsequently suffered immense hardship. After almost drowning in a river, being hit by a car, being beaten by rain and weak from hunger, it was discovered by a policeman.

Good things then started to happen as the puppy was then fed, cared for and eventually returned to its owner so all ends well. Worldwide from Europe to Australia, India, China, Brazil and America infants would be so unhappy listening to the story, until hearing that the police arrived and then they would cheer and be happy, in the knowledge that good things were about to happen. However, in Nigeria upon hearing police, instead of being happy the infants screamed in horror in anticipation that “now real trouble has come!” The Irish Lady couldn’t fathom how Nigerian infants, who are yet to be taught even the alphabet or anything of significance,  have already learnt that police should be avoided at all costs! Apparently, the beginning of wisdom in Nigeria is to learn that police are not your friend.

The main problem isn’t the seasoned matured officers, it’s younger policemen who exhibit disregard towards both the public and the laws of the land. The antics of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) places them in a class by themselves. Discourteous, arrogant, hot tempered and sometimes bloodthirsty, their psychological stability is questionable as they have a well-earned reputation for extortion and discharging their weapons on the flimsiest of reasons. Thankfully the Force Public Relations Officer DCP Frank Mba has announced that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has ordered FSARS to immediately desist from constituting themselves into a nuisance and cease routine patrols, stop and search, checkpoints, mounting roadblocks, and traffic checks. In addition, they must always appear in police uniform or approved tactical gear while on duty. The IGP also warned against their invasion of privacy through indiscriminate and unauthorised search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices. Commendably he condemned all acts of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by FSARS personnel and ordered the prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring officers and men. However, his charge that Commissioners of Police in charge of FSARS along with the Commissioner of Police in charge of State Commands and the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of the Zone will be held liable for any misconduct within their area of responsibility isn’t fair on them. The Nigeria Police Force is known for its well-trained officer cadre who behave courteously, responsibly, maturely and do their job, contrasting with its ill-disciplined, poorly trained rank and file. Although the IGP said FSARS will not be disbanded because the squad constitutes a critical component in combating prevailing violent crimes in the country, the fact remains that such crimes are not being curtailed in any discernible fashion, and indeed are on the increase. Cynics accuse police authorities of simply playing to the gallery. This is the third or fourth time robbery squad policemen have been ordered to restrain themselves, yet nothing has changed. The fear now is that if Nigerians resist their phones being searched, FSARS are more likely to shoot than obey the IGP’s instructions. There is nothing new about indiscipline in FSARS. It’s been reasonably suggested that the IGP’s statement isn’t borne out of any change of heart by the top echelons of the police force, but rather due to the proliferation of camera phones whose owners record FSARS nefarious activities and post them on social media, bringing about local and international condemnation.  Online videos and testimonies of FSARS brutalising, extorting and even killing innocent Nigerians are too numerous to detail. While Boko Haram insurgency and banditry are the scourge of the North, FSARS are the scourge of the South. Many prominent Nigerians have spoken out against the outfit, notably former Vice-President and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in 2019 Atiku Abubakar. Evidently campaigning for the much awaited 2023 elections, he made political capital from government’s failure to control the activities of FSARS even after renaming it. He said that while the unit was set up to confront violent crimes such as armed robbery and kidnapping, reports of intimidation harassment and outright extortion by their officers and men have continued unabated.

Nigerian superstar Wizkid drew ire by calling President Buhari an old man who should express less concern for US President Donald Trump’s medical problems and more for Nigerian youths.

This was not a fair criticism because although President Buhari has previously disparaged Nigerian youths, government’s position on their constant harassment, intimidation and killing by police was outlined by the Minister for Youths and Sports Sunday Dare. He said “If we stigmatise our youths as criminals… and harass, attack and arrest them indiscriminately… aren’t we as a nation destroying their reputation and chances to succeed?”

The truth of the matter is that the FSARS problem can’t be solved by issuing directives. This isn’t the first time an IGP is making such an order, indeed a similar order was given last year when the name was changed from SARS to FSARS.

Most Nigerians believe that the response of FSARS to the new directive will simply be to restrict their activities to night time when camera phones cannot record their activities. While the IGP must be commended for his intervention, the question still remains; how, with massive unemployment, did such people get recruited into the force in the first place? If recruitment and screening was done properly many of such elements should never have passed and been weeded out as psychologically unstable. Those clamouring for disbandment of FSARS claim the unit has not recorded sufficient successes to justify their continued operations. As far as most Nigerians are concerned, the police do not serve public safety interests, and they are looking forward to the day when little children in Nigeria will grow to be taught and truly believe that the police are their friends.