All Policemen found culpable by the Presidential Panel on Reform of the defunct SARS will be punished - Police Service Commission

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has stated that all policemen found culpable by the Presidential Panel on Reform of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) will be punished.

The commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations Ikechukwu Ani in a statement released on Friday October 23, expressed shock at the level of destructions on innocent Nigerians, public facilities and businesses in the country by miscreants in the last few days.

The commission which called for restraint, also pointed out that it recently dismissed ten senior Police Officers including an Assistant Commissioner of Police and also reduced the rank of nine others following established cases of misconduct.

It read;

“The Commission wishes to reiterate its commitment to holding Police Officers, whether of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) or conventional, accountable for their actions and inactions and will continue to ensure instant due punishments for misconducts.
“The Commission only recently dismissed ten senior Police Officers including an Assistant Commissioner of Police and reduced the rank of nine others following established cases of misconduct.
“The Commission will process and punish all Policemen found culpable by the Presidential Panel on Reform of the defunct SARS. The Panel had concluded its assignment in 2018 but submitted its Report to the Commission on Friday, 16th October 2020. The Commission is still awaiting the white paper on the Report from the National Human Rights Commission so as to quicken its disciplinary mechanism and ensure that those to be dismissed are immediately flushed out from the system.
“The Commission will however like to condemn the unprovoked killing of Police men and women across the country and the burning of Police stations, stressing that the action was barbaric and unfortunate. It notes that Police Officers are also Nigerians that have sacrificed their lives and comfort for the safety of the citizens and their properties and deserves nothing but commendation, support and encouragement.
“The Commission warns that any attempt to force the country into a state of lawlessness will be an ill wind that will blow nobody any good.
“We will ensure that the Police that will emerge in the nearest future will meet the expectations of Nigerians. Nigerians are therefore urged to extend to them the required cooperation and support while Government attends to the basic inadequacies facing the Institution.”