The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has directed that no official of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) should, from now, carry arms without wearing the police uniforms.

The IG gave the directive as part of measures to reform the FSARS which had received unfavourable criticisms from the public on its operations lately.

Speaking through a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Adepoju Ilori, head of the Monitoring team of the FSARS in South West Nigeria, the IG said: “On no account should any SARS carry arms when they are not in uniforms. SARS should also limit their functions to investigations of cases of armed robbery and kidnapping. Any official who flouted this order will be severely dealt with. We seek the cooperation of the public to report to the commissioner of police any SARS that is flouting these rules.”

Speaking further, DCP Adepeju said his team which included an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Abayomi Shogunle, had gone round the FSARS offices in the South West and screened them, with a view to find out if the suspects in their custody have committed offences that are within the purview of the FSARS, adding that the exercise was part of measures to reform the security outfit.

•Excerpted from aDaily Sun report