The Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, Ibrahim Idris, has warned police officers attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) against searching mobile phones and laptops of citizens, who are not under investigation.
The IGP said this through Amaechi Elumelu, the National Coordinator of X-Squad, at the Anambra State Police Command Headquarters, during a lecture to officers of FSARS:
“You’re barred from searching handsets and laptops of innocent citizens, unless the search is directly linked to a case or directed by IGP or any person or persons he so delegated, he said.
“Forthwith, any FSARS officer who detains any suspect beyond 48 hours without recourse to the court risks dismissal.
“Operatives of FSARS are to be trained and retrained regularly to equip them with modern working knowledge and skills to perform optimally in line with international best practices.”
He noted that the reason for the creation of FSARS is limited to handling armed robbery and kidnapping cases only, and not to harrass innocent citizens.
