The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has said that personnel of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) would undergo a mental test.
He said the test was to ascertain their level of preparedness on the field and reduce cases of extra-judicial killings.
According to him, the new directive from the Force Headquarters came as part of measures to reform the SARS.
Idris, who also warned the SARS personnel not delve into civil matters, added that failure to comply with the new directives would attract adequate sanction.
He stated these on Friday during a lecture with the field Commanders of SARS from various parts of the country in Abuja.
The IGP also said the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations would now lead SARS as the Strategic Commander.
As a way to curtail their excesses, Idris also said the personnel would now operate in official uniforms which would be clearly marked for easy identification.
Idris said: “As part of ways to reform SARS, psychometric test, training and continuous assessment of operatives deployed to SARS to determine the suitability or otherwise of their role in keeping with acceptable standard operating procedure would be conducted.
“SARS operatives are prohibited from acting as bodyguards, delving into land matters, personal disputes, disputes, debt collection and matters that are considered civil.
“They are also prohibited from conducting stop and search on roads unless when necessary and can only embark on operations only on the permission of the CP in charge of SARS, Deputy Commissioners and ACPs operations in the Commands they are answerable to.”
