The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on Thursday warned operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to desist from torturing and killing suspects.

Amnesty International had claimed that the Nigeria Police torture suspects up to the point of death.

While speaking to SARS operatives and their commanders from various state commands at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, said this was one of the ways to correct the negative perception about them.

He also said operatives of the squad will be retrained and an intelligence-arm will be created.

He said, “You should respect the constitutional right of every Nigerian; you don’t have authority to take lives, you don’t have authority to change a civil case to a criminal case, you don’t have the right to torture suspects.

“You should conduct yourself to the admiration of the people. Don’t portray yourself as a demon. SARS is not devilish; you have to change the face of SARS by handling cases justly. Don’t turn the complainant into a criminal. You have to be sincere in dealing with the public.”

Azeez