The British Government has said it trained and equipped operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force between 2016 and March 2020.

UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, made this known in a letter to a member of the British Parliament, Kate Osamor.

The lawmaker had earlier written the UK government over financial and training supports extended to ex-SARS officers.

Osamor, who represents Edmonton, and who is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nigeria, had stated that ex-SARS operatives were involved in no fewer than 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extra-judicial killings since January 2017.

Responding to Osamor’s letter, Duddridge in a letter on Thursday sighted by The PUNCH, said the British Government, through its Conflict, Stability and Security Fund trained ex-SARS operatives and supplied some equipment to them.

Duddridge’s letter partly read, “Following my letter, officials have conducted a deep dive and reviewed our recent CSSF programmatic support to determine whether any of our programmes worked with FSARS.

“Following the review and in the interest of full transparency, I want to share the following information with you;


“Firstly, through our CSSF-funded Nigeria Policing Programme, which ended in March 2020, FSARS officers participated in the training on amended Nigerian police guidance designed to improve human rights, training on public finance, and community policing workshops.


“Secondly, through our support to the North East Public Safety and Security Programme (part of which is delivered jointly with USAID), radio equipment was issued to Borno Police Command by our implementing partner (Creative Associates) to increase coordination between police units working to improve local security and to counter violent extremist organisations. Borno Police Command distributed two handheld radios and a vehicle-mounted radio to FSARS Unit.

“These were returned and redistributed to other police units in Borno when FSARS was disbanded on 11 October.”

The minister said the British Government was working with the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry and other concerned authorities to support the Federal Government’s efforts to end police brutality and extrajudicial killings.

Duddridge also welcomed the Judicial Panels of Inquiry investigating human rights abuses by security agents in Nigeria including the shootings of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos State.

smoke9910:
The UK did not train them to be touts. They became that of their own doing.

kkkp:
In every profession we have the good and the bad. Lawyers, Doctors, Bankers, pastors etc. The environment they operate in is also a contributing factor. That's why Nigerians excel outside the shores of the country.

Pierocash:
in SARS ,no good one around them. Nigerians don't excel only outside the shores, we have excellent Nigerians here too.
The police and SARS by extension ,is a law to themselves that is why they have no rule of engagement

kkkp:
We have SARS in the North and they are doing a good job

Pierocash:
because the northern elites won't tolerate brutality against there people.

We have few nothereners that are SARS men in south here, they behave same as their southern counter parts here.

The environment gave them impetus to behave lawless here

Islie:

Osamor had stated that ex-SARS operatives were involved in no fewer than 82 cases of torture, ill-treatment and extra-judicial killings since January 2017.

kkkp:
All the elites are the same o! if we don't have SARS we have bandits and kidnapping

kkkp:
All the elites are the same o! if we don't have SARS we have bandits and kidnapping