The Nigeria Police Force has introduced a new uniform for operatives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad across the country.
Speaking in Lagos on Friday, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said the move was meant to engender effective operation and to check the excesses of the unit.
The all-black uniform, which comprises black trousers, T-shirt and a jacket, also has a number inscribed on it to indicate the state command, which an operative belongs to.
“We want to give NPF a decent identity. We have a decent mode of dressing for SARS. We want to eradicate the situation, where anybody can wear anything. We want to check numerous cases of impersonation. Everybody now wears black T-shirts, with various nonsense inscribed on them and they claim they are men of SARS. Each uniform has a number, which indicates the state command that owns the uniform.
“We also want to check the cases of police men who also commit series of atrocities while claiming they are members of the SARS unit. We want a police that is accountable to Nigerians. They will wear it when they are in operation,” he said.
The police commissioner said the police have also taken steps to professionalise SARS by dividing it into two units – the striking unit and the investigation unit.
“The people who make arrests will no longer be the people who conduct investigations,” he said.
