Presidential Panel Recommends Establishment Of State, Local Govt Police

A presidential panel on the reform of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has recommended the establishment of State and local government police to tackle the rising insecurity in the country. The panel chaired by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu said the establishment would assist in addressing the security challenges in the country. Submitting the report of the panel to President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, Ojukwu’s panel also recommended for a significant improvement in the funding, kitting and facilities of the Nigeria Police Force. The panel further recommended for strengthening of the Information and Communication Technology of the Force. It called for the institutionalizing of a Special Investigation Panel to annually hear and determine complaints on alleged human rights violations against operations of the Nigeria Police Force. Responding, President Buhari said, “ I hereby direct that since the recommendations of the Commission that constituted the Panel are enforceable as decisions of the Court, that the Inspector General of Police and the Solicitor General of the Federation/Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice meet with the Commission to work out the modalities for the implementation of the Report within 3 months from today”